Published on Jurgen Klopp possesses a weapon that injury-plagued Liver pool may employ against Premier League rivals Liverpool’s injury crisis, which has been routinely the worst in the Premier League throughout the early weeks of 2022/23, is arguably best illustrated by their recent Champions League subs.
Jurgen Klopp was permitted to have 12 players on his bench, but he could only name ten each time.
Even then, the group included two reserve goalkeepers and a 17-year-old who had played 20 minutes of first-team football.
Despite the relative lack of skill, Klopp utilized five substitutions in Naples in an attempt to spice things up.
The Reds’ performance in the first match week was so dismal that changing all 11 players probably would not have altered the outcome.
However, the changes had a marginally positive effect and hinted at what Klopp may be able to accomplish when his injured players return to first-team action.
England was notoriously late to implement the five-substitute rule, with the Premier League only permitting five in-game substitutions beginning in 2022/23.
It’s too early in the campaign for any data to prove anything, but early indications indicate that many managers have yet to take major advantage of their expanded possibilities.
Everton and Leicester City have not used a fifth substitute once this season, and Leicester City has only used their fourth sub once.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Brentford’s Thomas Frank has used 29 of the 30 substitutions he was allowed through the Bees’ first six games.
In general, though, the Premier League uses fewer substitutes than the other major European leagues.
In England, the five-sub revolution is not yet completely begun.
How have 5 subs worked in the Premier League compared to other big 5 leagues this season? , PL teams average almost 1 fewer sub per match than other leagues , PL subs play significantly fewer minutes than the same substitute rank in other leagues pic.twitter.com/NT2X26K7v1 Klopp has used a fourth replacement in four of Liverpool’s six league games, and a fifth just twice.
Again, a lack of options probably lies at why he has not utilised his increased complement more regularly and this is not to imply that his modifications have not had an impact.
Although Liverpool have had a dismal start to 2022/23, it could easily have been worse.
Darwin Nunez scored and assisted goals after coming off the bench in the Reds’ 2-2 draw against Fulham, before Fabio Carvalho secured a stunning late victory at Newcastle United having not been in the starting XI.
In neither game did Klopp employ his potential fifth sub but it’s easy to envisage how advantageous it may be in future.
Though they were unable to be crucial against Everton and Napoli, having the quality of Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota and Nunez (among others) on hand certainly made the picture a little brighter for the Liverpool boss.
He has been unafraid to make early changes.
Some would claim that poor performances from his team have pushed his hand, and there is some truth in that.
Only five sides in the Premier League have made their first change earlier on average this season, and Klopp has made a personnel switch no later than the 51st minute in half of the matches thus far, with only one of the three games won.
But whatever the motive for the substitutions, the Reds have had more minutes from their bench than any other side so far this season (per Transfermarkt) (per Transfermarkt).
Liverpool are placed third in the division for average minutes given to sub number four, and second for the final change.
Klopp has seen the potential which being able to deploy a 15th and 16th man can provide, and his record early in 2022/23 suggests he will employ them more frequently once the injury troubles at the club diminish.
The Reds’ rivals who think they’ve effectively weathered an early storm in games will likely have to think again after the international break.
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