Klopp Explains Jon Flanagan's Absence In The Team

Many have wondered about the status of the Scouse Cafu since he failed to appear in any recent league games for the team. Fullback Jon Flanagan is not registered to play in the Europa League, so as Liverpool progressed further into the tournament, fans reasonably expected to see the newly fit Flanagan playing the league games in order to give one of Nathaniel Clyne or Alberto Moreno some much-needed rest.

However, that hasn't happened recently. The last time Flanagan played for Liverpool was when he was deputized as captain in the heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Southampton back in March. Making it even more surprising is the fact that the player had just put pen to paper on a new three-year contract with the team.

In an interview, Klopp was asked about Flanagan's exclusion:

"Flanno’s situation is not too easy to explain," he said. "He cannot train all the time and when you are out for such a long period you cannot build a base. That is all. It is a little bit similar, but a different story, to what I said about Daniel Sturridge.

"If we want to help him we need to work on his physical resistance so he is really ready for more than one game and does not need two or three days recovery. That is not how it should work. That is what we will try to do."

For his part, Flanagan says that he hopes to be in contention to make the team that Klopp sends out at the Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea City on Sunday.

While all Liverpool fans want to see Flanagan succeed, he was out for eighteen months, so moderation and management are key. If we don't see him again this season, hopefully the time off, along with the upcoming summer break, will be what he needs to get back to full fitness for next season.