Jurgen Klopp discussed rotation and the departures of Nathaniel Clyne and Dominic Solanke ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round clash with Wolves.
The Reds are back in action just four days after their first Premier League defeat of the season at the hands of Man City, this time in the cup against Wolves.
Looking to put their 2-1 loss at the Etihad behind them, a likely much-changed side will take to the field at Molineux, with Simon Mignolet one of those to come in.
Explaining his approach to rotation at Melwood on Saturday, Klopp insisted there was “no chance for anything else” after an intense period of eight games in December followed by the trip to the Etihad on Thursday.
“We have to, that’s clear, we came through the intense period now, somehow OK,” he told reporters
“But of course we have to make changes. How many I don’t know, but we have to, there’s no chance for anything else.”
Klopp described Mignolet as “a fantastic professional” who “did brilliantly so far” and joked that Wolves would ensure “he’ll have the opportunity to show up a few times!”
Two players who will miss out, however, are Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, with the centre-back duo still ruled out, but with the latter closing in on a return.
Teenagers Ki-Jana Hoever, Rafa Camacho and Curtis Jones are all in line to make their Liverpool debuts, with the manager describing Hoever as “a joy to watch.”
Clyne’s half-season loan move to Bournemouth on Friday has opened up the prospect of one of Hoever or Camacho filling in at right-back.
On the subject of Liverpool’s double deal with the Cherries, Klopp insisted “we have to care about people and we have to care about their situation.”
A host of other players throughout Klopp’s squad will be hoping to improve their own situation next week, as though the league and Champions League remain priority, the FA Cup is a useful platform to impress.
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