You can’t win.
Jurgen Klopp was always going to view Tuesday night’s Champions League second leg clash with Porto as the perfect opportunity to rest some players.
Three weeks after the first leg, when the Reds claimed a comprehensive 5-0 away victory, Klopp has named a balanced XI which features some rotation but some regular first-teamers.
#UCL team news… https://t.co/5rVaVEyNIn pic.twitter.com/LQJiOquhXV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 6, 2018
Sadio Mane netted a hat-trick on Valentine’s Day and he’s feeling the love again tonight as he starts in an attacking unit which also includes Roberto Firmino but Adam Lallana, who has only just returned from injury, comes into the starting line-up in place of the free-scoring Mohamed Salah.
“We were very effective that night, and strong – maybe surprisingly strong. Porto is a fantastic football team and Portuguese football is really strong,” Klopp said.
“It was 5-0, that is how it is, but we scored from each chance we had, pretty much, and Porto didn’t. It doesn’t say anything about the level between the different leagues.”
With a crunch Premier League clash against arch-rivals Manchester United on Saturday, some supporters were delighted to see vital players like Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andrew Robertson given a break.
I’m glad he’s resting the big boys
— Louise Knowles (@Loobylouliver) March 6, 2018
Good idea to rest Salah, VVD and Ox ahead of the United game
— Jordan (@Jordizer) March 6, 2018
I think this is a great team selection, still a strong starting 11 while also giving a rest to VVD, ox, and the King of Egypt – Mo Salah
— agLFC (@ResurgentReds) March 6, 2018
Thanks for resting Salah , keeping him fresh for Man U ☺
— FOLARiNDaGenius (@FolarinDaGenius) March 6, 2018
While others claimed there wasn’t enough rotation.
Why is he playing both Firmino and Mane? At least one of them should have been rested
— The Winger (@sakht5) March 6, 2018
Wish we started Ings, Mignolet, Klavan, and Solanke too
— Hadi (@Hadi_Basma7) March 6, 2018
Ffs half of those players shouldve been rested!
— lpfjj (@flacko_jnr) March 6, 2018
Hmmm, I reckon Jurgen should have rested Mané and Firmino as well as Salah… Should’ve given Ings and Solanke a start, build their confidence
— James Sebastian Harp (@harp_sebastian) March 6, 2018
And a minority were, for some reason, worried about the lack of Liverpool’s best players despite the fact that they kick off with a five-goal head start.
get Mo Salah in the starting 11 right fucking now
— shronk (@BURNZY666) March 6, 2018
Why no van dijk do not trust this defence at all ffs
— Aqib (@AqibLFC4LifE) March 6, 2018
Where is the star of Salah ??
— orwa rukn al_diyn (@al_diyn) March 6, 2018
Salah on the bench ffs
— “?? (@KingKeita__) March 6, 2018
WHERE THE FUCK IS SALAH?????????
— Dr Stewie (@Likius_) March 6, 2018
You can’t please everybody.
