WOLVERHAMPTON, UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes an early injury to defender Dejan Lovren highlighted why he chose to name a second-string side in bowing out of the FA Cup 2-1 to Wolves on Monday (Tuesday morning, Singapore time).
Klopp made nine changes to the side that lost for the first time in the Premier League this season to Manchester City last Thursday, with Lovren one of only two players to retain their place.
However, the Croatian pulled up with a hamstring injury after just six minutes and was replaced by 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever.
"Hamstring, is what I heard - without any signs before," said Klopp on what forced Lovren off. "I asked everybody, no signs, nothing, just out of the blue, so that's the decision you have to make.
"I am not sure what you all would have said if immediately from the beginning if our centre-half situation was Fabinho and Ki-Jana; then probably a few very smart people would tell me that I don't respect the competition or whatever."
Goals from Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves either side of half-time sent the hosts into round four, where they will face Shrewsbury or Stoke City, despite Divock Origi's fine strike briefly bringing Liverpool level after the break.
Hoever's introduction meant Liverpool fielded three teenagers for the majority of the match with Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones also handed debuts.
However it was the visitors' most experienced player, Milner, who was at fault for the opening goal when Diogo Jota caught the former England international in possession in midfield and put Jimenez clean through for the Mexican to score his seventh goal of the season.
Without Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, Liverpool were struggling to get any momentum going forward.
But the visitors were level out of nothing when Origi collected a loose ball on the edge of the area six minutes into the second period and smashed the ball high past John Ruddy.
Wolves, though, have made a habit of upsetting the Premier League's established top six in their first season back in the top flight.
After beating Chelsea and Tottenham and holding City, Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League, Liverpool can now be added to the list of scalps for Nuno Espirito Santo's side thanks to a wonder strike from Neves.
"He has talent, he has done it before and we encourage him to shoot from range," said Wolves boss Santo. "It was a good strike."
Only a brilliant save from Ruddy denied Xherdan Shaqiri a stunning equaliser and Liverpool a replay as the Swiss's free-kick was touched onto the inside of the post by the Wolves goalkeeper.
Klopp had a final roll of the dice by throwing on Salah and Firmino for the final 20 minutes, but even their firepower failed to spark a fightback and Klopp's team selection will now be seriously questioned as he is still to deliver a trophy in his four seasons in charge.
However, with Liverpool still in pole position to deliver a first league title in 29 years, the German coach defended his selection to minimise the chance of his stars suffering injuries.
"We played a similar line-up and had three tough games in the last couple of weeks, so it was clear we had to change," Klopp added after a run of four Premier League games in 13 days over the festive period.
"The intensity of the last few games gave me the information it was not possible to start with these three up front. Only Dejan played a lot of games in the last three or four weeks, pretty much all the games...He played today and was injured."
North Shields FC and Wembley appearances, overcoats for goals and the Highbury clock. New book on Tyneside club's history reveals some startling facts, including the link between the Robins and
Harry Kane sets Wembley target for his reinvigorated
Ruben Neves stunner from 25-yards hands Jurgen Klopp's side an early FA Cup exit. Reds' hopes of a treble are over after the Portuguese ace unleashed a trademark strike from distance.
Why Jurgen Klopp has no option but to risk another early FA
Liverpool stun Barcelona to overcome deficit and reach UCL final and advancing to their second successive final with a 4-3 aggregate victory. to decide if Liverpool or Tottenham will win
UEFA Champions League: Liverpool oust Barcelona after
Champions League: Liverpool ease past Bayern Munich 3-1 to reach last eight Sadio Mane scored twice to hand Liverpool a 3-1 victory at Bayern Munich with a dominant performance that sent them
Bayern vs Liverpool: Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk see Reds
Lions' new coach Tatsuma Yoshida wants more intensity, confidence Amirul hopes to be named in new Lions coach Tatsuma Yoshida's first starting line-up, when they take on Solomon Islands at the
Football: Lions to play Soloman Islands, Myanmar, with new
Clock ticking for city to close $17.2M gap. By Elizabeth Dobbins, edobbins@lowellsun.com. The city expects additional revenue from local taxes on recreational marijuana, with a quarter of this
Small Cities Feel the Clock Ticking on Opportunity Zones
Plazibat's 5th goal in 5 games sent Hougang to the top of the table in the 5th round of the 2016 S.League season. In total, he scored 16 times in 24 league games for the Cheetahs before moving to Home United. Home United. After his contract was not renewed by the Hougang United's Management, Plazibat moved to local rivals, Home United.
Kolasinac delighted by 'big win' but urges focus. By. Andrew Allen - April 12, 2019. 17. We need cool, confident (but not over-confident) heads at the SPS and
Newport keeper skips FA Cup celebrations after wife goes into labour be with his wife who had gone into labour during the match. Day, who had turned his phone off during the shock 2-0 fourth
Football: Newport County keeper Joe Day cuts short FA Cup
The 2019-20 season is Tottenham Hotspur's 28th season in the Premier League and 42nd successive season in the top division of the English football league system.Along with the Premier League, the club competes in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Football: Tottenham Hotspur to play in Singapore in July pre
Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi is courting interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Villareal. The 17-year-old attacker is one of England's best players in his age group and has made four
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Chelsea 'confident' teen sensation will
Holders Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who overturned a first-leg deficit to reach
Shellshocked Madrid knocked out of Champions League by
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will fight with every fibre for Premier League title 2:57 pm, 8th February 2019 The Reds host Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday, knowing victory will take them back to the top of the table with a three-point cushion before Manchester City host Chelsea, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp Says Liverpool Will Fight With Every Fibre For
0 comments:
Post a Comment