Journalist Tom Barclay has suggested that Tino Livramento could be used in a different position by Ralph Hasenhuttl to allow Kyle Walker-Peters to move back over to the right flank for Southampton moving forwards.
What's happened with Livramento and Walker-Peters so far this season?
After signing from Chelsea last month, Livramento has already cemented his place in the Saints' line-up, starting all six of their Premier League games this term.
Walker-Peters has found his game time more limited, though. He has started just half of the team's top-flight matches, and each of his appearances have come at left-back, despite the 24-year-old being a right-footed player who did not play in this position once when in league action in his maiden campaign at the club last year.
What did Barclay say about Livramento and Walker-Peters?
When considering whether Livramento and Walker-Peters may play together on the right-hand side at some point, Barclay mentioned that the former could be pushed higher up the pitch, having previously played as a right winger for England Under-21s.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Barclay said: “I did the game at MK Dons, the win against Kosovo, which was Lee Carsley’s first game in charge last month. And Livramento didn’t start, Max Aarons did because he’s the most experienced player in that squad, and clearly Carsley likes him a lot. But when Livramento did come on, he came on at right wing rather right-back and they played together. So that would suggest that he has the ability to do that, and probably be quite impressive. And that way you could get both of them in the team.”
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Is it worth Hasenhuttl giving this idea a try?
There is an argument that Livramento has flourished at right-back thus far, and Hasenhuttl should be wary of giving him a new role just a handful of games into his Southampton career.
Walker-Peters has also been the side's sixth-best player this season, according to WhoScored, highlighting that he is hardly out of his depth when playing on the left. Still, the former Tottenham man is primarily a right-back, so it would make sense for Hasenhuttl to try to get him back over to his preferred position.
Southampton have really struggled in front of goal in the opening weeks of the campaign, scoring just four times in their six Premier League fixtures, and they have not found the net at all in September.
Therefore, they need to change things up a little to turn their fortunes around, and by getting Walker-Peters back to a more familiar position, and Livramento into the final third where he can do some damage with his pace, this tactical switch could serve the team well should Hasenhuttl give it a try.