Liverpool travel to take on Rangers this Wednesday. The Reds have done their hosts a favour ahead of the Champions League meeting.
Rangers vs Liverpool will be a massive game for both clubs this week. The Scots must win if they’re to fight for third place. Liverpool, though, know these are three points that could be essential if they’re to get out of the group and into the knockout stages.
Thus Jurgen Klopp’s selection to face Arsenal was always going to be an interesting one. The boss had played a first-XI in the home tie with Rangers, a decision that potentially weakened the players who would also face the Gunners.
As it turned out, every player would also face Rangers. Klopp named the exact same XI, trusting his players to handle the intensity. In doing so, he appears to have done the Scots a favour.
Rangers host Liverpool on Wednesday
The headline problem is that both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz went off injured against Arsenal. Klopp suggests both issues are ‘bad’ and it seems highly unlikely they’ll be available for Rangers.
Then the question becomes, will they be ready to face Manchester City? The Reds host the champions on Sunday and we can’t imagine either play.
But beyond them, there’s the rest of the team. Many of those players faced Brighton then Rangers then Arsenal in a little over a week. We doubt they’ll be fit to play Rangers and even if they are, taking to the pitch for that one risks their availability against City.
It’s a difficult situation now and the only solution we see if rotating heavily at Ibrox on Wednesday. The City game is an enormous one that demands Liverpool at their best. The Rangers one can maybe be won with a second-string side. Maybe.
All we can say for sure is that Rangers won’t face Liverpool at their best. Either in personnel or in fitness.
