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Jurgen Klopp must start this Liverpool player against Southampton - Charlie Nicholas
JURGEN KLOPP should play Lucas ahead of Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi if Liverpool want to reach the EFL Cup final.
Jurgen Klopp - 5 things you need to know
Those are the thoughts of Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.
Liverpool will be looking to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their semi-final at Anfield tonight (8pm).
Lucas has been sparingly used by Jurgen Klopp this season.
Lucas could feature against Southampton in the EFL Cup
Jurgen Klopp's side need to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Southampton
I think they should play Lucas and shift everybody up the pitch
But Nicholas thinks Klopp’s best bet of turning the tie round in his favour, is to let Lucas start so that he can get his side on the front foot.
“People will look at what Swansea did and think Southampton are a far better side so have a good chance, but the sign of a big side is that they produce a big reaction to that sort of result," Nicholas told Sky Sports.
“Philippe Coutinho has more minutes under his belt and Roberto Firmino is back in the goals, while Joel Matip, who is Liverpool's best central defender, will surely come in to shore up their defence.
Charlie Nicholas thinks Daniel Sturridge might have to make way again
“Rather than bring in Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi, I think they should play Lucas and shift everybody up the pitch.
“Sturridge is struggling for that change of pace that makes him a special footballer and he's dwindling towards the exit door for me.
“I think he'll still make a contribution to their season but he's not a key ingredient to Jurgen Klopp's team.”
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