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Jur ruining it

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is creating problems for himself with his goalkeeping and defensive merry-go-round

SIMON MIGNOLET will return in goal for Liverpool against Burnley at Anfield tomorrow.

Danny Ward, 24, whose last game was the Championship play-off final for Huddersfield, has returned from his loan spell and is expected to feature at Leicester in the EFL Cup.

 Jurgen Klopp is creating problems for himself with his endless defensive rotation
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Jurgen Klopp is creating problems for himself with his endless defensive rotationCredit: Reuters
 Loris Karius and Danny Ward are both expected to play in the next week
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Loris Karius and Danny Ward are both expected to play in the next weekCredit: Rex Features

Four days later, Liverpool return to the King Power for a League game and it will be Mignolet wearing the gloves.

And three days later, Liverpool travel to Spartak Moscow for their second Champions League group match and Loris Karius will be wheeled back into goal.

Confused? Liverpool’s keepers certainly will be.

Jurgen Klopp can try and put positive spin on this strange and ultimately unnecessary situation he has created.

Yet this three-way rotation could inflict further damage on an already unreliable and thoroughly unconvincing defence.

As they have proved this term, Liverpool are an outstanding force going forward.

 Simon Mignolet is Liverpool's No1, but can't nail down a regular spot
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Simon Mignolet is Liverpool's No1, but can't nail down a regular spotCredit: Rex Features

But at the back, the area which provides the foundation for any successful team, Liverpool are once again suspect and it is difficult to see the situation improving.

Karius, 24, made only his second appearance since January in Wednesday’s 2-2 with Sevilla.

It would be unfair to blame him for either goal and while he is attempting to give the impression that he is cool and unflappable, underneath, Karius will still be a bag of nerves.

He has failed to convince since his £4.7million move from Mainz in July 2016 but you get the impression Klopp still believes the German will, eventually, be his long-term number one.

That is why Klopp did not move for another keeper in the summer and despite his lack of clean sheets for Torino and his problems at Manchester City, Joe Hart would have been a better option.

Instead, Klopp has created confusion, both in the goalkeeping department and among the defence which needs some stability. And also better players.

 Liverpool have been left frustrated by their defensive woes too often this season
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Liverpool have been left frustrated by their defensive woes too often this seasonCredit: Reuters

Barcelona have got away with using different keepers in Europe and the league.

But elsewhere – for the clubs that do not have Lionel Messi in the team – these changes can only occur in domestic cup games.

Klopp is making problems for himself.

Liverpool’s defence, which is not strong anyway, needs to have the same keeper for all the major matches and the manager will pay the price for this curious policy.

Despite insisting he has three good goalkeepers, Klopp is probably waiting for Mignolet to make a few more major mistakes before attempting – once again – to ease Karius back into the side.

After his team allowed Sevilla a way back into the game, Karius claimed: “It’s an interesting situation with three good goalkeepers, which can only be good for the club.

 Loris Karius has looked uncomfortable in his two matches so far this term
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Loris Karius has looked uncomfortable in his two matches so far this termCredit: Rex Features

“We try to do our best every single day in training and in the games. I’m happy I got to play and I’m hoping I get more games of course.

"I try to prepare well in training and then be ready when I’m called upon.

“It’s up to the manager anyway, you don’t decide yourself as a player. All you can do is concentrate on your work and that’s what I’ve done.”

Klopp’s issues are not merely confined to the goalkeeping department.

Dejan Lovren delivered another car-crash performance against the Spaniards but he is still better than Ragnar Klavan.

Klopp failed to secure Virgil van Dijk to partner Joel Matip but he made a major mistake by not targeting another centre back.

 Jurgen Klopp's defensive squad rotation has resulted in a lack of cohesion
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Jurgen Klopp's defensive squad rotation has resulted in a lack of cohesionCredit: AP:Associated Press

Left-back Alberto Moreno once again proved against Sevilla that while he can be outstanding in attack, he still struggles defensively.

He was also at fault for the visitors’ opening goal.

Andy Robertson was signed from Hull in the summer, is a superior defender to Moreno and impressed in the 1-0 win over Palace but that has been his only game.

At right-back, Nathaniel Clyne’s long-term injury has handed opportunities to promising youngsters Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez but both have much to learn.

Gomez yesterday apologised to supporters after landing a second yellow card against Sevilla meaning he will miss the trip to Moscow.

On Twitter, he wrote: “Sorry if I let the lads down with the second yellow late on... something to learn from personally.”

 Liverpool will be hoping to get back on track, starting in defence, against Burnley on Saturday
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Liverpool will be hoping to get back on track, starting in defence, against Burnley on SaturdayCredit: Rex Features

While Liveprool are comfortable on the ball in their three-man midfield, Klopp's team is also short of a more defensive-minded player to help shield the back four.

Over these next few weeks, maybe even against Burnley tomorrow, expect Liverpool to continue to show their impressive offensive might.

Philippe Coutinho, their best player who failed to earn a move to Barca, is only just returning to the team.

Liverpool should still qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League and they will still challenge in the top four.

Yet inconsistency, great results, bad defeats, stunning goals and horrendous cock-ups are likely to be the story of their season.

On the plus side, TWO of Liverpool's star men made it into the list of FIFA 18's top 20 quickest players.

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