For Liverpool it is again important for the Premier League, because Jürgen Klopp’s walking wounded entertain West Ham United next.
The Reds chief saw that his already thinning central defense options were further compromised this week by a hamstring injury to Fabinho.
The Brazilian midfielder, who came on for the ailing Virgil van Dijk, was sent for a scan on Wednesday and is on the sidelines for an indefinite period.
“When someone has a muscle problem, the doctor rarely calls me the next morning and says it’s a false alarm, everything is fine,” said Klopp of Fabinho’s injury.
With Joel Matip continuing to struggle for long-term fitness, Klopp only has Joe Gomez available as his only central defender.
Fabinho was already playing from position when the problem arose in the first half against FC Midtjylland.
Rhys Williams has stepped up the task admirably alongside Gomez against the Danes and while likely facing tougher trials in a Liverpool shirt, the 19-year-old can rightly be proud of his Tuesday night performance.
Despite the apparent lack of options at the moment, Klopp wanted to show a brave face after a third highly competitive win in a row, citing Nat Phillips and Billy Koumetio as possible options for the center-back on Saturday night.
“Rhys did really well,” said Klopp. “Now we have four days to West Ham and you’re going to make a story about him.
“He’s a talent, 19 years old and has more minutes in the Champions League than in the Premier League.”
“He has now played two Champions League games and won both. Very promising.
“We also have Nat Phillips, he’s a center-back. Billy ‘the boy’ too, he’s going to train this week.”
It remains to be seen who or what Klopp will choose to defend to visit the Hammers, but there is a school of thought where captain Jordan Henderson or Gini Wijnaldum fall into the center-back.
Both midfielders have already played for the Reds there and could help Klopp out of a traffic jam if Matip doesn’t make the cut, which seems likely at this point.
It might take some creativity, but it also won’t be a unique situation with them nodding in the middle of the half.
The other big question for Klopp is what he does with his midfield.
Is he returning to his trusted 4-3-3 after playing back-to-back games in a 4-2-3-1 formation, largely due to poor fit and available central midfielders?
Klopp’s attempts to blow away both Sheffield United and Midtjylland with a front four have failed and both games may be tougher than expected.
Much will depend on the fitness of Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, should one of Henderson or Wijnaldum go back on the defensive.
While Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi did little to improve their reputation against the Danish master, Xherdan Shaqiri was intelligent and inventive at times.
It was his well-weighted pass that enabled Trent Alexander-Arnold to prepare Diogo Jota for the opening goal.
But if someone wants to break the current top three places on Saturday night, it will be the formally strong Jota, whose goal in the Champions League has brought him to a total of three since he signed with Wolves last month.
The problem for Klopp is who will get out in his place if he is with some right to believe that Jota deserves to keep his place.
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