Klopp: Merseyside derby won't influence Spartak approach
Jürgen Klopp has insisted Sunday's Merseyside derby meeting with Everton will not enter his thoughts when choosing a starting XI to face Spartak Moscow tomorrow evening.
A place in the Champions League knockout stages is at stake when the Reds run out at Anfield on Wednesday for their final group-stage fixture.
A draw or a victory would secure progression for Klopp's team - the latter as guaranteed group winners - while defeat would in all likelihood consign them to the Europa League in 2018.
As such, the German boss is not allowing thoughts of local pride or three vital Premier League points to cloud his judgement until his team achieve their European objective.
"Look, winning a game is always good for each team and squad; losing a game is always bad for each team and squad," he told reporters.
"I don’t have the resources to think about the game on Sunday already. We have enough time after tomorrow night to think about that and we will be prepared then for that game.
"I don’t believe in this kind of influence. We want to go through, we have the chance to do it, so we will not hesitate to line up our best team - as we did always so far.
"Even when we changed a lot it was always about bringing in these players to have the concentration, to have the skills and to have the fresh legs to win the game.
"Thankfully it worked quite well in the last few games and that’s what we will do again.
"We will prepare this game, we will line up for the game tomorrow night and we cannot line up for the derby as well in the same moment."