Klopp makes odd claim about XI v FC Porto

Jurgen Klopp has told the press he will not ‘rest’ players for the second leg of our Champions League Last 16 tie with FC Porto, despite winning 5-0 away from home.

But this is because Klopp doesn’t like the definition of ‘rest,’ and if you read between the lines, it’s clear he’s actually planning to make serious changes.

 

“Another week now for Newcastle, then Porto and United in one week. All the people before the Porto game will tell me, ‘Now you can rest him, him and him’,” he told the Echo.

“Arsenal for example, that’s so unfair. They were through in the tie and had a final on Sunday yet I only hear after the game things like, ‘wow that was embarrassing against a Swedish team’. But they are through in the tie and played a final on Sunday.

“That’s the situation. We play Man United, we will not rest anybody. We will play a strong side against Porto and a strong side against United.”

To the untrained ear it might seem like Liverpool’s boss will pick his best players in what’s practically a European dead-rubber, but Klopp rarely ever chooses the same side in the same week.

Of all managers in the country actually, he’s most likely to ring changes.

We face FC Porto on the Wednesday, then United at Anfield on the Saturday lunchtime.

As a result, we think whichever first-team players are not in his ideal XI for United will play against the Portuguese. This includes Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson – and maybe Ben Woodburn, Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke.

We may also see Nathaniel Clyne get his first start of the season at right-back.

ARIS