Liverpool’s Rafael Camacho appeared to suggest that he’s being used in the wrong position by Jurgen Klopp in an Instagram post on Sunday night.
The Portuguese youngster – who had been tipped to leave Anfield on loan in January and return to former club Sporting Lisbon – scored a hat-trick in Liverpool Under-23s’ 6-0 win over Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rhian Brewster and Joe Gomez all played in the match to hand a treble fitness boost to Klopp, but it was Camacho who caught the eye with a dazzling display having started the game in an attacking position.
And news of the 18-year-old’s scoring prowess might come as a surprise to those who have seen Camacho’s two first-team appearances, during which Klopp has picked him as a right-back.
(Image: EMPICS Sport)
Camacho – who was formerly on the books at Manchester City – started the 2-1 defeat to Wolves in the FA Cup third round in January on the right of the Liverpool defence, playing the full 90 minutes.
Two weeks later, he then came on as a substitute for Mohamed Salah to make his Premier League debut in the closing stages of the 4-3 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield, where he again went to right-back following a red card for James Milner.
But following the Leicester treble, he suggested that he shouldn’t be played in a defensive position.
Alongside an Instagram post of the Liverpool website’s report of his hat-trick – which was liked by teammate Gini Wijnaldum – he wrote: “I do not know whose idea it is, but I will prove that they are mistaken about my football.
“I’m not a right defender, I’m an attacker who scores goals. This is my DNA.
“Happy to score 3 goals and help the team in today’s win vs Leicester.”
Camacho was first used at right-back during Liverpool’s pre-season tour to the USA last summer, and has been suggested as an understudy to Trent Alexander-Arnold in the position.
