LIVERPOOL — Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager, will select a strong team against Porto on Wednesday despite the fact that the English side is certain to win its group.
Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid to qualify for the final group game. Klopp is aware of his limitations and must manage them amid a busy stretch of 12 games in 40 day in all competitions.
Klopp was in a similar position last season when Liverpool played FC Midtjylland. It was a game that had nothing at stake. He had a few first-choice players, but Diogo Jota was injured and was out for three months.
Klopp was reminded of this on Tuesday and took umbrage, but said that he would do it again.
Klopp stated, “We cannot play football with this lineup. Then next game, a lineup that has no chance of winning a game. Then bring them back.”
“Players need rhythm. All these things. Do I decide to make this decision because I don’t care about who is injured in tomorrow’s lineup? No. No. These are the things that happen in football. We hope nothing will happen tomorrow.
Eight players, including Jordan Henderson, are currently injured or in doubt for the match. Klopp stated that he would “think about us and our schedule” while picking his team.
Klopp stated, “It’s easy to sit there and all the people who judge you and say, Leave him out. Leave him out.’ If we don’t leave anyone out and play with a non-champion league team, then no one can be hurt. It is important to choose a team that has the chance of winning a football match. Diogo was extremely unlucky. It was so awful that I decided to end it.
“But would you have made the same decision again?” This is the only question I can answer. Because stability is what you need, yes, I would again.
Porto is currently in second place, one point ahead Ofético Madrid and four ahead AC Milan.
