Friday 8 December 2017 08:14, UK
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman says he would be surprised to see Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp start their 'Fab Four' in Sunday's Merseyside derby, live on Sky Sports Premier League.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have earned the nickname for a string of impressive attacking displays this term.
All four were on target in Liverpool's 7-0 win against Spartak Moscow on Wednesday, with Coutinho scoring a hat-trick to ensure the Reds clinched top spot in their Champions League group.
However, the fact that Jordan Henderson was rested in midweek has led Osman to believe Klopp may hesitate to start all four attacking players on Sunday.
"I would be surprised if he starts with all four of them - he usually plays three. It's not reckless [if he starts all four], but he usually leaves out one, if not two in the big games," Osman said on The Debate.
"I thought it was really interesting he left Henderson out. If he was resting anyone going into the game, I thought it would have been one of the front four.
"When you have a strikeforce as attacking as Liverpool's, you need balance and energy. Everyone has documented their leaky defence, and you've got to have people that can protect that area, like Can and Henderson.
"I thought it was a compliment to Everton, that looking forward to this game on Sunday, he left out his protection, rather than his front four."
Liverpool currently have 33 league goals to their name after 15 games played, with only the two Manchester sides ahead of them in that aspect.
And while Manchester City comfortably lead the way with 46 goals, Osman believes it would be fair to compare Liverpool's attack to that of the Premier League leaders.
"The pace and guile, the way they link up - their second goal [against Spartak Moscow] with interchanging movement and passing to set up Coutinho for a tap-in. Even from across the park it's great to watch, football-wise," Osman added.
"You can certainly compare it to City and the way they play. I think City are a touch braver, who have an extra midfielder in (David) Silva and (Kevin) De Bruyne, but Liverpool's attack is frightening enough on its own."
Meanwhile, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Klopp's tactics will heavily revolve around the front four on Sunday, likening them to the attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, who almost guided the Reds to league glory in 2013-14.
"There's a confidence in Liverpool's front four that I haven't seen in a while, perhaps since Brendan Rodgers got Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling going," Murphy said.
"If I'm the Liverpool manager, I'm telling to just go out and play with intensity and freedom, and hit them early."
