These games where you think he needs a defensive player like Lucas is where Henderson still has a huge part to play. Can, Hendo and Milner is a very good midfield 3. They will press and press and press. Obviously Hendo would then have to come in for one of those attacking players but as you say in certain games, this will be required anyway. I'm intrigued as to what Klopp thinks our best 11 is when everybody is fit. Out of the attacking players Lallana would probably be everybody's first choice to omit, but for me he is essential to the way we want to play. He plays Klopp's pressing game better than anybody we have. It also helps he is an incredibly gifted footballer who is adept with either foot and also possibly does the Cruyff turn better than the late, great man himself!
For me, it would be Can, Hendo, Milner with Lallana, Firmino/Coutinho and Sturridge/Origi.
I said this about Lallana in the Can thread. I fucking love him, been a big fan since he came in and liked him when he played for Southampton. The first thing that struck me about him was how at ease he is using his 'weaker' left foot. Not a lot of footballers can use their weaker foot, and of those that can, the majority can only swing a decent cross or a shot out of it. Just look at the way this lad controls it, dribbles with and takes touches with both of his feet. If any of you play football, try and do a Cruyff turn with your weaker foot. I probably like this more than most as I too am adept with either foot (I must note I only play 6 a side now) but as a youngster playing for junior teams I always got stuck out on the left and just learned to use my left foot for a few years. Really bothers me that more footballers can not do it.
Anyway, I genuinely think this lad, along with Emre, is going to be the first name on Klopp's team sheet. I read a few posts when Klopp came in and since saying he doesn't suit Klopp's style. Absolute nonsense! He is fucking perfect for it. His work ethic also seems to rub off on others. There was a moment in the game the other night when Lallana was pressing from the front as he does, and his nearest team mate was Sturridge who needed to press too to prevent Lallana's press being pointless. Sturridge didn't and Adam had a word with him, he was gesticulating for him to press and he never did. Then afterwards you could see he was again telling him what he wanted.
That's another quality that will go unnoticed by many, the lad is a leader. He was Southampton's captain. If we can only play two out of him, Firmino and Coutinho then I am afraid it is one of the samba boys who has to miss out. He has 7 goals and 8 assists this season, too, so he isn't that far behind those two in numbers. And his pressing is just invaluable. The sort of player you don't really know what you'd miss until he isn't there.