Liverpool’s decision to loan out Nathaniel Clyne was the main topic on the agenda after it was revealed Trent Alexander-Arnold faces a month on the sidelines.
Alexander-Arnold will miss at least the next four games due to a knee injury picked up in the warmup for Saturday’s 1-0 win at Brighton, and aggravated throughout.
It seemed as though Jurgen Klopp‘s risk in allowing the 20-year-old to play through the pain had paid off as he lasted the full 90 minutes, but he is now facing his second lengthy spell out this season.
Though the Reds’ schedule is considerably lighter this time around, with Crystal Palace (Jan 19), Leicester (Jan 30), West Ham (Feb 4) and Bournemouth (Feb 9) to come before Alexander-Arnold’s comeback it remains a bitter blow.
Here’s how Liverpool supporters reacted to the news on social media.
Many highlighted Clyne’s departure to Bournemouth as an oversight…
https://twitter.com/stehoare/status/1085144938248056832
I said loaning Clyne was a stupid move and got criticised for it. Gomez isn't fit yet and should be at CB. Fabinho should be in midfield not right back. Title challenge will rely on Milner or the inexperienced forward Camacho deputising at RB. https://t.co/TNoEI6YdSJ
— Red (@TaintlessRed) January 15, 2019
This is why I don’t understand why we let Nathaniel Clyne go? We now have to have a make shift right back for 4 weeks. Is it possible? Yes. Is it really annoying? Yes. https://t.co/uhqDNxBMrd
— – (@AnfieldRd96) January 15, 2019
“Its ok we have Clyne…oh wait, no we dont.”
– Arton Rrustemi on Facebook.
https://twitter.com/albinodave97/status/1085150056842493952
Letting Clyne go…real smart lads
— Neil (@BurpleMan) January 15, 2019
Said it at the time, but we need to act more like a team going for the title. Clyne asking to go should have held 0 weight. Should have been told he can go in summer but for the rest of this season he was staying. Loaning him out was no help to us & that's all that should matter.
— Paolo (@Paul9H) January 15, 2019
I said letting Clyne go on loan was a mistake. In the title run in we’re in now he was too experienced to let go in case of the dreadful position we’re in now
— . (@KloppsLegion) January 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheCarteI/status/1085152626587697152
While the decision to start Trent was criticised…
Playing Trent after he was injured in the warm up is not looking too smart now. https://t.co/GmexgHa3pW
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) January 15, 2019
We haven't made many stupid decisions in the last 12-18 months but this is a glaring exception. Milner was on the bench. Learn from it. Don't let it happen again. https://t.co/oNpRqTpArW
— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) January 15, 2019
What’s mad about the Trent injury isn’t that we left Clyne go, it’s that trent picked it up in the warm up to the Brighton game and was aloud to continue playing through it for 90 mins despite Brighton not once attempting to get at our back line
— Daryl (@BirdyBirdLFC) January 15, 2019
“It was a bad decision to not bring him off though everyone knows playing injured no matter how severe an injury makes the problem worse and the player more injury prone.”
– Ryan Kenrey Speakman on Facebook.
Trent wasn't right before the game against Brighton. During first 20 he wanted to come off too. Odd risk. https://t.co/MWV3qnwiWB
— Scott (@scottdcuk) January 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/WoodyYNWA/status/1085148353598509056
However, some have taken a more rounded view of the situation…
Seriously, the Clyne takes are shocking. He started one game when the 3 ahead of him in RB pecking order were injured and once Milner was fit again, Clyne dropped out. You can't just keep players for freakish injury situations.
— Colin McBride (@colin_a_mcbride) January 15, 2019
Palace (H), Leicester (H), West Ham (A), Bournemouth (H).
The Clyne thing is annoying, but a combination of Milner/Fabinho/Gomez at RB should be enough to get through this next set of fixtures with a whole week's rest between games.
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) January 15, 2019
“The only “lucky” thing about this is that our schedule for the next month is not so bad. Hopefully all of our defenders will be fit for the Bayern games.”
– Ngo Vu Hieu on Facebook.
Not fazed about TAA out for a month. James Milner will cover that position and when Gomez is back, he can cover there as well. Also have Fabinho and Camacho who can play that role. We have plenty of options, that’s why we loaned out Clyne.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) January 15, 2019
Loaning Clyne was fine given his position at the club and place in the pecking order but of course it looks much worse with Trent now injured. Always the way with these things, fate and bad luck conspires to exaggerate the decision.
— Dan (@Dan23_92) January 15, 2019
Even if Clyne was here, Klopp would still be reaching for the Milner card. Next 4 games spread across 4 weeks are Palace, Leicester, West Ham and Bournemouth. We should be fine.
— Anika (@AbedinOfficial) January 15, 2019
“Just to be clear. We have the Brazil national team right back in our squad Ffs. Stop panicking”
– Andrew Jamieson on Facebook.
Losing Trent is bad but not as bad as some are making out. We have like 3 games, 2 of which are at home in the next 4 weeks with lots of recovery time and we have our players coming back. #LFC
— Simon (@SimonBrayLFC) January 15, 2019
To be fair, James Milner will do us an absolute solid at right back in Trent's absence. One more injury to a defender, though, and we're in deep trouble. #LFC
— Scott Groom (@ScottCGroom) January 15, 2019
The Trent injury isn't ideal but we have more than enough quality in the squad to cope.
With Gini a doubt for Palace, it would be a great time for Keita to start to show the ability we all know he has #LFC
— Jamie Holme (@JamieHolme) January 15, 2019
And one unlikely solution was presented!
People losing their shit about a lack of cover for Trent at right-back with Clyne gone.
Never fear…… pic.twitter.com/BSf5bUtSy4
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) January 15, 2019
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