Jürgen Klopp explains team selection v Spartak Moscow
Jürgen Klopp has explained the thinking behind his decision to make five changes to his Liverpool line-up for tonight’s crucial Champions League encounter with Spartak Moscow at Anfield.
Sadio Mane returns to join an attacking foursome that also includes captain-for-the-night Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Elsewhere, Loris Karius, Joe Gomez, Ragnar Klavan and Alberto Moreno are back in the XI.
Klopp said: “I thought the best way not to lose is to win the game. Like always, we will need perfect organisation and we show our respect for the opponent with our attitude in the game.
“No line-up gives you the guarantee for a win, we always work with probabilities and stuff like this.
“It’s a completely different game [to the one in Russia], they have a different side with three or four important players back in the squad. There is no difference in our approach because you cannot draw with the intention to draw for 90 minutes, that does not work.
“We have to work, be well organised and play football. It is our home game and we are a strong side, so we should show that – we should show what we are fighting for.”
Explaining his decision to start Jordan Henderson on the bench, Klopp added: “I have a lot of difficult decisions – good decisions to make in the moment – so this is the line-up for tonight and that’s all.
“Hendo and Millie played in these positions at Brighton. It is quite intense in these positions, so that’s why I decided to do this.”