Klopp Talk: “It Is Not a Moment to Rest Players”

Liverpool had over 80% of the possession. They had nearly ten times the shots. And they still lost 2-0 to Burnley on Saturday in their second game of the 2016-17 Premier League season. Sometimes that’s just how football works, and Jürgen Klopp says he’s looking forward to the chance to get things back on track quickly.

“It’s good that in football you have the chance to show in the next game,” said the Liverpool manager at his pre-match press conference today when asked about the quick turnaround. “It’s not likely we will make seven or eight changes. Depending on injury maybe not too many, but we will make changes.

“It’s an important game. We have analysed Burton Albion. I like watching the Championship, and they are a good team—spectacular results and a really nice story. I would expect them to play the 3-5-2, and we respect our opponent of course, so it is not a moment to rest players.”

Whether Klopp gets close to seven or eight changes will depend on the fitness of a few players who have spent recent weeks dealing with injuries. First amongst them Emre Can, who didn’t face Burnley over the weekend. The midfielder complained of soreness in his back ahead of the match and was held out as a precaution.

In defence, meanwhile, speculation is Joël Matip may be ready to make his competitive debut after picking up an ankle injury in pre-season. If Matip and Can are ready, then along with a few changes for rest and rotation the squad on Tuesday could look fairly different than Saturday’s; if they aren’t ready, change will be minimal.

“The first game was good and the second game was not,” Klopp added. “So what is true now? We have to stay calm. I’ve lost a few games in my life and I will lose a few more. You can lose a few games. Nobody wants the information that we got from Burnley, but we got it and now it is important we use it to find a way to win.”