Furthermore, this issue was brought to light by their most recent 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones were both shown the red card during that game. After receiving numerous bookings, Liverpool was forced to pay a hefty fine of £25,000. Because of these disciplinary concerns,Klopp now has difficulty choosing his squad. Having been given a red card, Jones will now miss two additional games.
However, Jota has completed his required one-game suspension. An important defender named Virgil van Dijk was sent off against Newcastle United earlier, missing two matches. Klopp is obviously frustrated. He emphasizes that Liverpool is not typically thought of as a “kicking team.”.
The Premier League’s disciplinary procedure is intricate. After collecting five yellow cards in the first 19 games, players are suspended for one match. As the season progresses, accumulation of yellow cards results in increasingly harsh penalties.
Although this system tries to safeguard players, it also gives managers strategic headaches. Two players that Klopp is keeping a close eye on are Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexis Mac Allister. Mostly for small infractions, Alexander-Arnold has received two yellow cards. As for Mac Allister, he has three in his new role as defensive midfielder. There are still a lot of games to play before the mid-season, so the possibility of additional suspensions is real.
The midfield of Liverpool is already in a difficult situation. It has been weakened by Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic’s injuries as well as by the earlier sale of Fabinho. Before the festive Boxing Day games, Mac Allister may receive two more yellow cards, which could cause him to miss important games—possibly against major rivals like Manchester United or City.
In short, Klopp and Liverpool need to exercise caution as the competition heats up. They understand they are balancing discipline on a razor’s edge.
