Klopp explains Henderson absence and changes at Saints
Jürgen Klopp has explained the decision to make three changes to his line-up for today's Premier League clash with Southampton.
Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Georginio Wijnaldum come into the starting XI at St Mary’s as Liverpool look to reclaim third place in the table.
Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, is not part of the matchday squad.
The captain’s fitness is being managed carefully as he returns from a month-long hamstring injury, while Emre Can’s suspension for Wednesday’s Champions League tie at FC Porto also came into the manager’s thinking.
“He’s not injured but he gets a rest, I decided. He can do it today,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com of Henderson’s absence.
“It was hard to decide but it gives him the opportunity to make a real session [at Melwood] instead of sitting on the bench today, because of the situation with Emre on Wednesday, that’s the truth.”
Speaking to Sky Sports about his selection, the boss added: “We don’t think too much about the last game because it’s all about the next game – what we need, who is fit enough, who can start, sometimes who made a good performance when we brought them off the bench.
“It’s no different in this moment. It was all about thinking how we can beat Southampton, which will be difficult. That’s the choice we made.”