Connor Humm

Wed 2 November 2022 18:00, UK

Alan Hutton has claimed Liverpool players are suffering from constantly changing players and formations as he suggested Joe Gomez is not to blame for his mixed form.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender said that Jurgen Klopp’s injury problems have forced the manager to keep switching the lineup.

Speaking to club media (31 October), James Milner said it has been difficult to “get the rhythm” due to injuries and not being able to have a “settled lineup”.

Despite a 2-0 victory over Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday (1 November), the Reds have suffered back to back Premier League defeats to Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.

Klopp has tried out several defensive formations this season to try and cope with the injury problems, including drafting Milner in at right-back when Trent Alexander-Arnold has been sidelined.

Van Dijk has also gone through several partners at the back, with Ibrahima Konate coming back in beside him against Napoli.

Hutton said the constant changing of players can be unsettling as he defended the likes of error-prone Gomez.

“I can talk from a defensive unit point of view and you want to know who you are playing with, who is next to you,” he told Football Insider.

“You want to build up those relationships with the back four or five and the goalkeeper and the two defensive midfielders in front. So it has not been ideal, the constant switching of players. It can’t be helped at this moment in time through injury.

“But, that being said, Klopp has also changed formations. He has gone 4-4-2, 4-3-3 diamond, 4-3-3. So that also does not help. He is trying to fix it and quickly but it can be difficult at times.

“But you do not become a bad team overnight. It is about just getting that confidence back, building on that and then climbing back up the table.“

In other news, a pundit has issued one-word verdict on Jurgen Klopp potentially quitting Liverpool after latest development.