Klopp Practice Rotation Of Liverpool Players To Maintain Consistency

Jurgen Klopp will practice the rotation of Liverpool players to maintain consistency and meet the tight schedule which is the cause of his coaching team being crushed by injury problems.

The Reds will face West Ham in the English Premier League (EPL) match early tomorrow morning, while some players will not be able to cover the burden of midweek and consecutive weekends.

The German manager is expected to have only one senior central defender – Joe Gomez – fit after Fabinho was forced off in the Champions League (UCL) victory over Denmark’s Midtjylland representative on Wednesday due to a hamstring problem.

The Brazilian completed the problem on the sidelines after a long-term knee injury suffered by Virgil van Dijk while Joel Matip is still struggling with fitness problems after being involved in a Merseyside derby clash.

Teenager Rhys Williams, who replaced Fabinho, may have made his first EPL appearance against The Hammers at Anfield as the defending champions hoped to extend their immunity in 63 games.

The fitness of midfielders, Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, will be checked at the last minute following a minor injury.

“We have to try to survive in this (difficult) period. This month the challenge is like in November or December,” he said in a press conference last night.

“We have the busiest schedule. Usually every year we will face this moment in December but we have to go through it now. That is why we took this decision and we will implement it.

“Fab will be affected, that’s clear. He suffered an injury so he will be sidelined this weekend and maybe even longer.

“The treatment or rehabilitation of Naby and Thiago is going well,. You have seen Thiago (hit) incident so he needs some time to recover.

“I do not know how long (he will rest) but no ligaments are injured. He is desperate to take the next step.

“If he is ready then we will consider him. Similarly with Naby’s situation, only his injuries are different.”

Klopp confirmed his decision to remove Liverpool captain Henderson in the first half against Midtjylland was part of a player rotation move in the coming weeks.

“Jordan does not have a fitness problem. I just consider his role – I take into account the minutes of the game that have involved Jordan,” Klopp continued.

“My job is to use this squad in the best way possible. That’s what I’m trying to do. When we meet Sheffield United, we change a little tactically and we will probably do something similar this weekend.

“It depends on who we have and what makes sense when facing a particular opponent.

“This is a challenge but it is. We do not complain but I just want to tell the situation.”

Meanwhile, Klopp is squeezing his brain to get out of defensive problems due to the absence of key players.

He adds: “Enjoying may not be the right word, yet I have long found this life to be a challenge.

“We just have to find a solution and and it is true that I am excited to answer it. I see challenges in this situation, opportunities will certainly arise.

“We have to play every few days so that is a challenge. We will try our best.”