09 Dec 2020 16:54:42
Why is klopp even taking half of these players with him?!


1.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 17:08:00
Rather surprised at the strength of the lineup, Fabinho and Salah should not be starting this game imo, unless they’ve practically begged Jurgen to start.


2.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 17:33:22
Shocked by that line up. No idea why Klopp has picked that team after his constant remarks about the schedule and if he gets any more injuries or drops points on the weekend, he really has no right to complain! Completely bemused!


3.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 17:37:59
The cynic in me would say its because its worth €2.7 mil a win in the group stages.


4.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 18:01:33
He’s moaned about resting players etc we are threadbare as it is! It’s a dead rubber I’m quite shocked he’s picked half that team! Any injuries or bad bookings could cost him massively!


5.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 18:12:02
He has only a selection of players to choose from. He is playing Fab, Salah and Jota who have played regularly.
I don't think he can do much more and I would guess some of these players will be subbed.

{Ed001's Note - Tsimikas, Origi, Trent, Keita and Minamino all need some game time to get match sharp. I am not sure what else Klopp could do either.}


6.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 18:14:26
I think ed2 said under uefa rules you after play a strong lineup. Plus you can make 5 subs.


7.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 19:25:56
Agree we need some experience but now we have Bobby, Salah and Jota on!


8.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 19:34:41
Pointless dead rubber and more or less a full team have played I think their goal keeper went home at half time.


9.) 09 Dec 2020
09 Dec 2020 22:50:33
Ed2 has said you can't just play kids. Can't believe the moaners here. Always have something to moan about.


10.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 06:13:30
The only regular ‘first choice’ players to play the whole game were Salah and TAA, both of them missed games recently because of C.V./ injury so they weren’t in need of a rest. Most of the rest played less than 45 minutes, they probably have more strenuous training sessions.


11.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 06:51:02
You cannot just play U23’s or a weak lineup in a CL group game, dead rubber or not. Chelsea on Tuesday, played a strong lineup in their dead rubber game as well. Did you hear the Chelsea fans kicking off about it? That is not how it works under the rules, as Ed02 has said.

Klopp picked a very decent lineup under the rules. Get a grip or go learn what the rules are before kicking off for no reason.


12.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 07:11:24
I don’t think anyone is kicking off just voicing legitimate options and concerns, nothing to do with learning rules.
Fabhino gets injured and it’s not good situation right?

Chelsea fans don’t have the lengthy injury list we have.


13.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 08:08:24
Only thing i was surprised about was how long Salah played. Trent and Naby needed the minutes and Robbo only came on due to an injury. Unfortunately i think the writing is on the wall for Origi as he surely should be playing 90 minutes but the fact he came off tells a story. Good minutes for the young lads to dip their toes in. Only thing is now the Gaffer can't really say on Sunday or next week that the players are playing too much. On a plus note our injury list seems to be shortening and if we get a few more bodies back over the next few weeks it will massively help with this xmas period.


14.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 09:11:55
Fully agree, JK. As much as I love Origi to bits, it seems the team has left him behind in terms of development and progress. I reckon he won't be here next year.


15.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 10:10:38
Ed001, do you think that Salah will still play on the weekend? Seems crazy to play him for the full 90 if not? thanks.

{Ed001's Note - Salah is insanely fit, he works incredibly hard. He can manage it no problem.}


16.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 15:03:21
I don’t know much about Salah’s actual fitness levels but, alongside Ronaldo, he’s the fittest-looking player I’ve ever seen. Just maintaining his physique requires a LOT of intense exercise. He’s got this easily.


17.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 15:49:32
I don't mind Origi staying beyond January and until the summer. There's a higher urgency to moving Keita on as soon a possible. The man is baffling. He has the skill but somehow is unable to produce on the field, for us, match after match after mach. (Not slating him, just making an observation in regards to the Origi comment. At least Origi has delivered with aces in certain games when he was needed to do so) .


18.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 15:55:19
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Klopp go with Mane, Bobby and Jota on Sunday with salah on the bench. Nothing to do
With his fitness levels but more to do with the fact we have Spurs 3 days later.


19.) 10 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 16:03:28
If Salah is not already the best in the world, he will get there. He was the mentality and the physical gifts. All that said, I wouldn't have played him :) but I'm sure he'll be fine for the weekend.


20.) 14 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 18:04:00
Why is there such shock that he gave minutes to a couple of first team stars. Fabinho can only benefit from getting extra time to work on a new position that he's not used to playing. Salah only improves when in rhythm and firing without stopping and starting so in a game where he could have no pressure to over do himself and just play his attacking game he's not in fear of fatigue. Jota didn't start the weekend so was good idea to start him and keep him sharp. Salah got a goal and fabinho played 45 mins where his MOTM performance can only do his confidence wonders. We don't play until Sunday and with no more CL midweek games to play until February we aren't desperate to rest players if they are showing no signs of tiredness.

Trent, Keita, Fabinho are only getting back from recent injuries so minutes was good for them in a less pressure game. Since salah got C.V. around international break he's played 2 league games and 2 European games and only feautured for 60 mins in 2 of those 4 ties. After scoring against wolves at the weekend after 3 previous games without a goal since before the international break klopp would have wanted him to follow up and get back in the goals as that is more crucial than resting a player who went 3 weeks in November without playing any match and wasn't injured so can't possibly be needing a rest. Fabinho at CB is not a role where he's physically pushed to levels that are draining.

So many critical of team selection when we need to keep the momentum going always and playing to a high level, . If we simply played 11 reserve and youth players it would not help any of the younger players trying to prove themselves.

Williams and Kelleher could benefit my having a fabinho whos top class instead of another young nervous player in defence. 2nd half we looked far less assured without the experienced man to lead his mates.

Young lad in midfield looked composed and was able to get the ball and move it on when the quality of keita salah and jota are looking always as an option. Last season when we got thumped 5-0 by villa it was no benefit to any of the 11 kids who were left vulnerable. Our defence got sliced open and kelliher was guilty of a couple of mistakes also while going forward we lacked that threat that 1 or 2 stronger players would have helped the younger lads play with more confidence.

It's all about using these games to develop the talented youth by asking them to step up to the senior players level around them and giving them the best chance without being restricted due to a line-up that lacks strength and likely to play on the back foot throughout.
I thought klopp got it correct. Henderson, gini, Robbo, matip, firmino, mane, Jones all deserved the rest time but the 3 or 4 seniors he started in Salah, jota, Keita, Trent and fabinho have either need match sharpness after injuries or players who klopp wanted to give the chance to keep growing confidence after impressive attacking returns so far. We are expected to control the possession and pace of the play at Fulham on Sunday so can't be worried about any of Wednesday night's starters being leggy or off the pace by Sunday. If any thing fabinho and salah will have added energy following a great performance by one and a goal scoring performance by the other. Salah broke a record that Gerrard held and fabinho led a defence that contained 2 defenders and a GK that combined have yet to play 10 PL games between them.


21.) 14 Dec 2020
10 Dec 2020 19:06:13
Salah to me, smacks of a player that is so fit that resting him is actually counter productive to some extent. They said the same thing about Lampard who very, very rarely got a game fully off.

IMO, Both players due to their insane fitness levels, seem to need to play a part in every game just to keep them sharp cos if they get a rest, it could damage slow down their organisms and make them vulnerable to injury. Just my take.