Reds' defensive woes turning into a comedy of errors

Before Ozan Kabak had kicked a ball in earnest for his new club, Ben Davies had already proved himself to be a true Liverpool centre-back. He had got injured.

So the jokes went, anyway. Fabinho was ruled out on Friday, Davies sidelined yesterday. Welcome to the curse of the Liverpool centre-backs, with five men hurt. When defenders were advised to copy Virgil van Dijk, this was not quite what Liverpool had in mind.