Minamino, Origi and anyone from the U23s who’d put in a decent shift that week.
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The point is that at this point in time we don’t have the squad that enables us to go and attack that match.
We are down to the bare bones, and playing lads when there is little cover, as the injury to Jota attests, is always a risk.
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In fact, for @AnfieldRdDreamer’s benefit, this is the team I’d have played.
Kelleher
Williams Williams Koumetio Tsimikas
Clarkson Cain Keita
Millar Minamino Origi
Trent on at half time, and if there are lads that the fitness staff think Klopp should play to keep their fitness Ticking over, then they get minutes in the second half.
Do we get beat. Of course. How many fucks do I give. Not one.
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Are there any considerations to observe in fielding depleted squads in champions league?
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I think I would have gone with a very similar team but played 3 at the back. Something like this:
Kelleher
R Williams Phillips Koumetio
N Williams Cain Clarkson Tsimikas
Millar Stewart Origi
Literally would have given a break to those likely to be in the match day squad for Fulham (not just in terms of the game but in terms of travel etc). Have them training at home, recovering from any niggles they’re carrying, allow fatiguing bodies to re-charge.
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Do you realistically think Klopps drive to win would ever let him take the same stance unless he had to? Keep in mind that drive to win is what has won us the big two in back to back seasons this is the rough you have to take with that smooth.
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But we clearly did as we won the match and had a full match day squad in our next game despite two injuries. Which really could have happened or not happened in match or in training. Playing players in that game doesn’t guarantee they’ll be injured nor does resting them guarantee they won’t.
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Phillips i don’t think so.
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Ah yes, good catch.
I’d probably have gone the same as Mascot then but with Stewart for Minamino.
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In a nothing match, in the middle of a crazily congested schedule, and half the squad injured? Yes, absolutely. Some are happy with that, fine. I’d rather lose this game 6-0 and have a fit Jota off the bench against Fulham and Spurs but here we are, back to Origi I guess.
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And what effect do you think that would have on our youngsters?
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What about when we’re not training because we’re playing so frequently. When are the players like Jotta who hadn’t played that much in the last couple of games supposed to get their work in? With this sort of schedule, it is important to understand that the games themselves are part of our physical training that we will have mapped out and planned for weeks ahead of time, not just an inconvenience we should look to avoid when a win is not necessary.
You mean like Jota?
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Are Miller or Stewart anywhere near contention to even make the bench in the domestic cups yet? In fact do we know they were even available for this game? If they were anywhere near ready I’d have at least expected to see them on the bench.
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I initially thought we should have played an u23 side but after seeing the second half I understand why we didn’t. Honestly, they could have been trounced 10-0 if they all started from the beginning. I know it’s a meaningless game but Klopp wasn’t going to send them out as lambs to the slaughter. I’ve no issue with him getting a few minutes in the legs of certain players.
Edit: And just as an illustration to the above, the u21s have played 3 games this season against senior opposition - conceded 6 vs Wigan, 4 vs Port Vale, 3 vs Tranmere. The u23s conceded 7 against Man City u23s the other week. Granted, we’d have had a stronger side out here, but the opposition is much stronger too.
If I were to criticise Klopp it would be for trying to win the game late on with substitutions. He could have taken Trent and Salah off, Jota off earlier, and just hoped we’d hang on.
I don’t feel the need to go on and on about it though. Klopp has been dealt a 2-7 and is bluffing his way brilliantly through the game. Maybe this is one decision he’s got wrong, but he has plenty more right.
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Yep Klopp is playing things a certain way, he’s getting us to where we want to be. So if you agree or disagree with every single decisions there’s very few and possibly no other manager who would do as well with the resources.
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I don’t think there were 87 second half minutes available!
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What if we play all youths and gets beaten so badly that their confidence is shattered?
What if some fans are disappointed that Klopp would just allow the team to get beaten badly when he could play a stronger team?
Yes. What if. We are all talking what ifs now. Klopp took a decision with the best of intentions. There are always risks to every decision he takes. Yes the results did not end particularly well for us but we are all talking what ifs. And its over already. WHAT IF…I suggest we move on?
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We didn’t win the match. It was a draw.
I’m not disputing players can get injured at any time. I’m saying that when you get the chance to rest them you take them.
Sorry yeah but we attacked the match and attacked the next match and the result could have been identical as Jota still could have got injured even if he had been rested for that match. Or he could have played and not been hobbled. He wasn’t an at risk player if anything he needed game time. We had a game, unless you’re advocating rolling out a team without a single important player in all games we don’t technically need to win I fail to see what people want. Kelleher was more important than Jota.
Just wondering whether UEFA sent a little note to LFC as a veiled reminder of the importance to them, in upholding the integrity of the competition.
There cannot be many explanations as to why so many first teamers put so many minutes into that game. Unless of course, Jurgen saw it as a replacement to the missed training sessions!
Confusing and frustrating in equal measures with what happened to Jota though.
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