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Doesn't seem to get much attention but the loss of Van Dijk and Gomez has been far, far more damaging to Liverpool's build-up play than it has been in a defensive sense. Takes so much longer to progress up the pitch without them.
Knock-on impact of not being able to play Fabinho in midfield is a massive factor too. That's not the primary reason why Liverpool didn't win tonight – they had the chances to do so – but it's been a problematic recurring theme in numerous games this season.
No slight on Nat Phillips or Rhys Williams – they've filled in as well as could be expected of them in really difficult circumstances. But the absence of VVD/Gomez (and now Matip too) completely changes the way Liverpool are able to construct attacks from the back.
It's not just the distribution of VVD/Gomez, but not having their recovery pace means it's pretty much impossible to play the same high line and continually pin teams back as much as Liverpool used to – which has been so central to the team's identity for so long.
Thiago returning should help significantly, but not sure it's realistic to expect him to suddenly solve this issue by himself while the centre-back situation remains so makeshift and unstable.
Last couple of points: no VVD (and Matip) massively limits Liverpool's threat from attacking set-pieces. And not having Jota, who can score a goal out of nothing when the main front three aren't quite at it, further exacerbates the problem. In short, injuries suck. End of thread.
