JURGEN KLOPP WATCHED his Liverpool side drop more points in a goalless draw away to rivals Everton on Saturday and then revealed he is still needing to carefully manage the minutes of several players.
The absence of several players through injury has been a major factor in Liverpool’s stuttering start to the season – they have now dropped nine points in their opening six Premier League games – and Klopp admitted it is likely to be an issue for a few more weeks.
Midfielders Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, and Naby Keita were among seven players unavailable for the match while new signing Arthur Melo was named among the substitutes but, according to Klopp, not deemed ready to play.
Konstantinos Tsimikas started at left-back ahead of Andrew Robertson, while Trent Alexander-Arnold was taken off after an hour to manage his minutes.
“Trent is playing all the time, Robbo (Robertson) is playing all the time and from time to time, like we have in the moment, we have alternatives there so that’s why we have to use them,” Klopp said.
That’s why we have to use them to bring fresh energy on the pitch, pretty much. It’s nothing to do with his performance, even when I know Trent can play better than today definitely but it’s nothing to do with that.
“We have to get through this period, how it is, because, yes, players are coming back but they have to be reintegrated. We cannot just bring them back to play 90 minutes or whatever, that’s just not possible.
“That’s why we need to have a look where we can do the changes and give the game a new dynamic again.”
Darwin Nunez went straight back into the Liverpool side on his return from a three-match suspension, but had a frustrating afternoon as he was unable to convert any of the six chances that came his way.
He was denied by a superb save from Jordan Pickford, who pushed his shot on to the crossbar late in the first half – one of three times Liverpool hit the frame of the goal – but was also guilty of missing the target with two headers from close range.
“He had the start-stop integration, that’s how it is,” Klopp said of the summer signing.
“We play all the time, that means we cannot train constantly, he was suspended in a week when we had two or three normal-ish sessions, the rest were individual when he had to do a bit more…
“I know that he will score in these moments in the future, that is clear…No, it is not a concern or whatever, it is just the situation, it is all fine for the moment in that perspective.”
One concern Liverpool did leave Goodison Park with was over Fabio Carvalho, replaced by Firmino at half-time after suffering a dead leg.
“It’s not bad, I think,” Klopp said. “It’s extremely painful, a dead leg in the muscle above the knee. He couldn’t bend the knee because the muscle has swollen up.
“We will have to see how quickly that settles.”
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Dropping of points is a major concern already. The performance was good yesterday I thought. Hitting the post twice and the crossbar and add in Pickford had the game of his life, these kinda days happen every once and a while but we have to start putting teams away. City dropping points aswell against struggling villa shows they’re not invincible but Liverpool have to start putting teams away before city are out of sight. Can’t be depending on a comeback like last season when we were 14 points behind them at 1 stage only to finish a point behind them on the final day.
@James horgan: not good enough last season and def not good enough this yr. They need to concentrate on qualifying for europe next yr and prioritise the FA or CARABOO as to keep the fans happy.
@Sean Bourke: “concentrate on qualifying for Europe”. Are you for real. They’ll finish in top 3 and more than likely top 2 with city winning the league. Arsenal will die off, Chelsea and spurs aren’t exactly setting the world on fire and united are united. No fears of any of the rest, just trying to keep pace with city. Which they aren’t at the moment but a long way to go.
@James horgan: “and united are united” ….. What’s that supposed to mean? They stick together?
@Stephen Foster: it means they won’t be anywhere near challenging for a title so Liverpool or City or spurs or whoever has eyes on winning it won’t even be taking uniteds results into consideration
@James horgan: recent form, results, and a look at the Premiership table would suggest otherwise.
@Stephen Foster: Man united are currently 8th. What are you on about
@James horgan: James don’t be taking that bait…
@Darren Fitzpatrick: he did tho lol
@Sean Bourke: he did :(
@James horgan: United are United! That’s a ridiculous statement. The most successful team in premiership history. If United are United they’ll finish above Liverpool as they have done more often than not over the last 30 years
@James horgan: omg get the thermometer out
@James horgan: and now they are 4th?
Bigger concern is that some players, Trent most of all, are too casual and look like they don’t care. Liverpool decided to rely on injury prone players so can’t use that excuse. The group they have should be doing better.
This result wouldn’t have been a disaster if the previous games were won . Mane is a big loss and a mistake letting him go , it makes it all so worse when ox was on more money than him .Too many players are off the pace at once , and if this run gets worse the fans will be on the Glazers miserly uncles , John Henry and co .
@Tricksy: he didn’t want to be there. His time ran it’s course. This mane missing is growing legs for now reason. Apart from the last 6 months of last year there previous 18 where poor from
Mane. Albeit he always gave you 100 percent, had had been lacking world class quality for a bit. I’m not haven him gone as the one sole reason we haven clicked yet
@Tricksy: Mane wanted to go they didn’t let him go if a player wants to leave good luck to him it can’t be as simple as Mane leaving ,form from at least 5/6 players has been poor and at that level if your not on it you get found out