Tony Cascarino says Jurgen Klopp made baffling decision in Liverpool loss

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Tony Cascarino has told The Times that Jurgen Klopp made a baffling decision during Liverpool’s defeat at the weekend by taking off Trent Alexander-Arnold and replacing him with James Milner.

The Reds have lost their last two Premier League games. And they can hardly feel that either defeat was undeserved.

Of course, Liverpool asked more questions against both Nottingham Forest and Leeds. But both struggling sides played their part in making Klopp’s men look very average.

Klopp criticised after baffling decision

And the sucker punch on Saturday came in the 89th minute when Crysencio Summerville poked home the winner against Alisson.

The opportunity came down Liverpool’s right flank with Wilfried Gnonto managing to cross the ball into the box. It was initially Milner who gave the ball back to Leeds with a poor clearance. And he was also beaten too easily by Gnonto, who was making his Premier League debut.

Milner had come on 10 minutes earlier to replace Alexander-Arnold. And Cascarino suggested that that decision helps explain why Klopp has to take some of the blame for Liverpool’s current slump.

“I do not believe Klopp’s position is at risk and he has plenty of credit in the bank at Anfield, but he is not absolved from blame,” he told The Times.

“His decision to take off Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the best attacking full backs in the world, and replace him with James Milner against Leeds was baffling.”

Liverpool boss had reason to make change

In fairness to Klopp, he did have some reason to make the change. Alexander-Arnold has come in for a lot of criticism this season. And he was not at his best going forward at the weekend.

Milner meanwhile, was one of their better players at right-back in the defeat to Nottingham Forest the previous week.

It was a negative change given that the score was level. But Milner is someone who will step up for however long his professional career continues.

Unfortunately, the decision played its part in Liverpool going on to suffer another painful defeat. And Klopp will be well aware that he has to join several of his players in doing a lot better.