English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers
at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 6, 2020. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP)
The Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed happiness at the glut of talented youngsters at his disposal following the recent injury crisis that hit the Anfield club.
The Reds continue their busy schedule with a Champions League clash against Midtjylland on Wednesday and Klopp knows he has the luxury of calling on his youngsters with qualification already assured. Liverpool are already assured of being Group D winners before they travel to Denmark to face the team certain to finish bottom of the pool.
This is the third time the Reds have finished top of their Champions League group in the last four seasons, though victory here would mean they have won five matches in the same group stage for the first time.
Ahead of the game, Klopp revealed he was yet to finalise his starting line-up but was contemplating giving many of his younger players an opportunity to shine in Europe, amid a host of injuries in his first-team squad.
“It’s the first time we haven’t needed a result in the final game,” said Klopp. “We have to consider the general situation but we are Liverpool and we want to win the game.
“Our squad is already very young, five or six players in the whole campaign so far.”Yes, they [the youngsters] will travel and then we make decisions. We have a session later. I have a few hours to make decisions. They will all play a part in my thinking.
“Without them we would be lost. Vitor Matos [Liverpool’s elite development coach] and Pep Lijnders [Klopp’s assistant] are really close with that group and they were well prepared. So that’s why we could use them.
“We had some problems for injuries, that is clear. We’ve lost top-class players but when one door closes another opens up but you need the right kids to use.
“And how the boys did it… Rhys [Williams] exceptional, Neco [Williams] played two good games in a row. Curtis [Jones] plays like he has for 10 years.
“Caoimhin [Kelleher] – it is a big chance for him – so thank God for these boys.”[Getting 15 points] is another reason [to go for the win]. We will try everything but we cannot forget the situation we are in, which means we play on Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday.
“In the next 22 days we play six games. So, we try everything to be prepared. I want to see our way of playing, whoever plays. It’s clear for the boys how intense we want to be for the opponent.”
Liverpool have won their final Champions League group-stage game in each of the last three campaigns, scoring 10 goals and conceding none.
