Liverpool's Options Improve as Emre Can Settles into Victory over West Brom

Beginning a run of games in which they will be expected to win in the Premier League, Liverpool sealed a 2-1 victory at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday evening, overcoming a second-half setback to prevail in an otherwise dominant performance under the Anfield lights.

Senegalese forward Sadio Mane opened the scoring on 20 minutes before playmaker Philippe Coutinho gave the Reds a two-goal lead with an excellent strike a quarter of an hour later, with Jurgen Klopp's side in dazzling all-round form.

Though Gareth McAuley's opportunistic effort deep into the second half denied a second clean sheet in as many games—once again highlighting Liverpool's weakness in dealing with set pieces—Klopp can be proud of his side.

Loris Karius looked much-improved in his role as Liverpool's No. 1; James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne continued their fine balance as Klopp's full-backs; summer signing Joel Matip once again extolled the virtues of the free-transfer market; and Coutinho, Mane and Roberto Firmino shone as the Reds' forward trident.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Similarly noteworthy, however, were Klopp's words before the game, speaking to broadcaster BT Sport.

"They're all very important. A little sign of the quality in the squad at this moment is Marko Grujic is not involved in the squad, Danny Ings is not involved, so there's a few hard things," he explained.

"Kevin Stewart, the young boys [were also also left out], so they sit at home. They did nothing wrong in the last week, they trained really good, but that's what we need.

"Adam [Lallana], of course, it's good to have him back, and it's good to have Gini [Wijnaldum] back—he trained twice [since recovering from injury], I think it's not enough [to start]—so we have a few very good options to change."

With Lallana restored to the starting lineup after an impressive cameo in Monday night's 0-0 draw with Manchester United, Wijnaldum was left on the substitutes' bench—and it was Klopp's alternative to the Dutchman, Emre Can, who arguably provided the most salient evidence of the quality throughout his squad. 

This is Anfield

Can lined up in a midfield three at Anfield, alongside Lallana and Jordan Henderson, with this trio combining to both provide protection for Klopp's back four of Clyne, Milner, Matip and Dejan Lovren and support for his attacking unit of Coutinho, Mane and Firmino.

This marked his second Premier League start of the season, and only his third start in all competitions, following a delayed return to pre-season training due to his involvement with Germany at the UEFA European Championship in France and, later, an ankle injury suffered in August's 5-0 win over Burton Albion in the EFL Cup.

But after coming through Monday night's test unscathed, playing all 90 minutes in a drab stalemate, Klopp once again put his faith in Can—allowing Wijnaldum further time to recover from a groin injury.

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

The 49-year-old will, however, have hoped for an improved performance than that produced on Monday night, with the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle describing Can as "understandably rusty" against United, despite improving in the second half and conjuring one of the best chances of the game.

Against United, Can looked off the pace and at odds with his duty in Klopp's new-look midfield—taking time to adjust to his surroundings, having previously established himself as a key player in a two-man unit in 2015/16.

In the opening minutes on Saturday evening, Can threatened another muted, confused showing, regularly dropping too deep alongside Henderson, ensuring Liverpool lined up closer to a 4-2-3-1 than a 4-3-3.

But he soon improved, and it was the German's role in Mane's opener that likely lifted his confidence in the middle of the park.

Picking up the ball near the centre circle following an expert dummy from Coutinho, Can surged forward, drawing West Brom's centre-backs out of position before playing a perfectly timed pass out to Firmino, who teed up Liverpool's No. 19 for an emphatic finish—an excellent team goal hailed by Goal's Melissa Reddy:

As the Reds imposed themselves on their struggling opposition, penning West Brom back and routinely penetrating their low block, Can presided over the midfield battle with assurance, looking closer to the player that inspired May's 3-0 win over Villarreal in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals.

Only Henderson (9.1 per cent) saw more of the ball than Can (7.7 per cent), with the former Bayer Leverkusen man completing 61 passes, switching play with five accurate long balls and creating two key chances.

Can was also instrumental in regaining possession in midfield, making two interceptions, one successful tackle and winning seven aerial duels.

It is in his combination of slick passing play and defensive diligence that he successfully negotiated the absence of Wijnaldum, who has shone as Liverpool's water carrier since his £25 million move from Newcastle United in July.

Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

With Wijnaldum, Lallana and Henderson firmly established as Klopp's first-choice midfield three prior to the October international break—a spell that saw Lallana receive treatment for a hamstring problem and Wijnaldum sidelined while on duty with the Netherlands—Can was aware of the challenge ahead.

He told the club's official website at the beginning of October:

"

For me, it has been a little bit unlucky so far this season because I came back a little bit late and had a very short break after the Euros.

Then I came back and got an injury. The team did very well and then I came back and it was not easy to get back into the team. 

Now I have to continue the work, I have to work hard. And I am confident enough that if I am ready and fit, I will play one day.

"

Fortune handed him that opportunity against United, and after settling in and impressing further against West Brom on Saturday, Can has now handed his manager a difficult decision to make as he plans ahead for the winter.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Henderson, Lallana, Wijnaldum and Can are all excellent options for the three roles in midfield—the deep-lying No. 6, the selfless box-to-box charge and the more advanced, creative star—while, as Klopp attested before the game, he has further options.

Grujic, the £5.1 million January signing who is yet to make his full league debut, Stewart, the 22-year-old academy graduate handed a new long-term contract in February, and Lucas Leiva, the veteran defensive midfielder, are all great options to possess.

Below them sit Cameron Brannagan, Pedro Chirivella and Ovie Ejaria—the latter name-checked by Henderson in his captain's notes in Liverpool's matchday programme on Saturday as one of the academy's finest talents—and this is the case throughout Klopp's squad, with many players awaiting a chance to follow Can's lead.

With Liverpool continuing their EFL Cup campaign at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night, and with another international break to come in November and their Premier League schedule presenting a tough spell as bona fide favourites, Klopp will likely require these options to ensure his squad remains healthy:

Liverpool's Next Seven Games (Premier League)

• Crystal Palace (A), October 29
• Watford (H), November 6
• Southampton (A), November 19
• Sunderland (H), November 26
• Bournemouth (A), December 4
• West Ham United (H), December 11
• Middlesbrough (A), December 14

Grujic, Stewart, Ejaria and Ings were all left out of Michael Beale's Liverpool under-23s squad for their derby clash with Everton on Sunday afternoon, and this could signal Klopp's intention to rotate in the coming weeks.

As Can's encouraging display against West Brom proved, this will be invaluable to Klopp as he looks to maintain Liverpool's form into the winter, as Liverpool's title hopes increase and the unbeaten run continues.

Jack Lusby will be covering Liverpool throughout 2016/17 as one of Bleacher Report's lead correspondents. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted; statistics via WhoScored.com.

Follow Jack on Twitter @jacklusby_ and Facebook here.