Liverpool prepares to face Arsenal in the Premier League after dropping players like Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold against Chelsea
Jurgen Klopp has stated that he will make Liverpool selection decisions for the remainder of the season based on training performances.
The Reds have had a disappointing 2022-23 season, finishing eighth in the table, 10 points outside the top four.
Klopp rested key players Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andy Robertson for Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea. This was in the aftermath of a 4-1 loss to Manchester City. Instead, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, and Kostas Tsimkas all began their careers at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool have 10 games remaining, beginning against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, with only one midweek match to play.
That means the Reds will be spending a lot more time on the practice field. And it means that players like Fabio Carvalho and Arthur Melo, who have struggled for game time this season, will have a chance to impress Klopp.
When asked if he has seen a positive reaction from Salah and Alexander-Arnold during his pre-match press conference, Klopp replied: “We had one proper [training] session since then” (the draw against Chelsea). The boys don’t show me that they don’t want it or anything like that. Absolutely not. So [they haven’t said] you left me out, so now what?
“This is not the type of situation we find ourselves in. This was a different week, but we will no longer play three times per week from now on. We have more time to train, and I must, and I will make team decisions based on what I see in training. That allows everyone access.
“We played three times a week, and the boys who play every day recovered.” The other boys can train well, but we won the last game, so why take chances because we saw one session with a few players show up? That’s a different situation, so you let it go and keep on building. What can we now build on? We now have
“We need to find a solid foundation on which to build.” Chelsea excelled in the first step; intensity, desire, and passion. The rest, not so much, but it’s fine, so let’s move on.
“I can’t keep asking for something I didn’t get.” Development does not work in this manner. That is not permitted by the person in charge. I’m very calm. I’m in it, I see everything, and I make decisions based on that. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. Again, you must persevere, and we will.”
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