Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum admits he 'didn't know what to do' in defence for very first time

Georginio Wijnaldum admitted he "didn't know what to do" playing in defence for Liverpool for the first time in his entire career.

The Netherlands international was forced to play at centre-back alongside another midfielder, Emre Can, as the Reds thrashed Brighton 5-1 away from home.

With Joel Matip and Joe Gomez unfit, and Ragnar Klavan available only from the bench after illness, Wijnaldum said he found it "difficult" in a back-three with Can and Dejan Lovren.

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"The manager was running out of options and he picked me and Emre," he said. "It was really hard in the first half because I didn't know what to do every time.

"We were training a day before the game. [Jurgen Klopp] didn't tell me, he just picked the team and he told me I was at the back. Normally I am a player who can play in different positions, but never in defence.

"It was difficult, especially in the first half, because I have never played there. But the manager was running out of options with players who were sick, so Emre and I had to play there.

"For Emre it wasn't that different because he has played there before, but for me it was difficult because you need to know when to close spaces."

Can got on the scoresheet as two goals from Roberto Firmino, another from Philippe Coutinho and a Lewis Dunk own goal moved Liverpool into the top four over Arsenal.

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