Patrik Berger believes that Jurgen Klopp should drop Thiago Alcantara for Stefan Bajcetic for Tuesday's Champions League tie against Real Madrid.
Liverpool have returned to winning ways with two consecutive wins against Everton and Newcastle, to give them a glimmer of a top-four finish this season after a disappointing first half of the season.
Another way to secure European football would be to win the Champions League outright, and they can give their a campaign a boost by beating Real tonight, and former Liverpool playmaker backed Klopp to take an aggressive approach.
Berger told Betting Sites: “Historically Liverpool are so strong in Europe, especially at Anfield but they’re going to be facing officially the best team in the world, who beat them in the Champions League final last season.
“I think Klopp will play the same team he did against Newcastle and Liverpool will always try to go forward and score goals. So I don’t think they will be defensively minded, I think they will go for it.”
The Czech believes that Bajcetic’s forward play makes him a more compelling starter than the experienced midfielder Thiago, adding: “If you look at the numbers over the past couple of seasons not many of Liverpool’s midfield create or score goals. It’s all left to the front three players. So if Bajcetic can do that he will make himself invaluable to the team.
“It’s a long season but I would rather see him playing than Thiago. He’s young, he’s fresh and he’s proved that he can play in the starting XI with no concerns. He would be my choice.”
Berger also backed Darwin Nunez to keep improving and show his worth.
“While Nunez came in for a lot of criticism earlier this season, he’s really working hard and improving,” he continued.
“All he needs to do is score more goals to make everyone happy.
“I watched Liverpool’s win over Everton and I thought that’s the best they have played in a very, very long time. That and the win over Newcastle was almost them being back to the old Liverpool. I think they’re getting back to their best slowly but surely.”