Jürgen Klopp has insisted that his team selection for the 231st Merseyside derby was influenced only by Liverpool's last meeting with Manchester City and not their next one.

The German has made five changes to the team that claimed a 3-0 victory over Pep Guardiola's men on Wednesday evening for today's trip to Goodison Park to face Everton.

But, speaking ahead of kick-off, Klopp explained that the intensity of the first leg of his side's Champions League quarter-final tie has forced him to shuffle his pack, rather than any plans for next week's second leg. 

The Reds boss was also keen to emphasise that his squad's focus is fully on claiming three points and local bragging rights this afternoon.

He told Sky Sports: "As always, [we were] in close talks with the medical department [to find out] who is 100 per cent. And you also have to wait until the last minute, especially when you have only a short break between the games.

"Mo [Salah], he's injured (groin). I don't think it is really serious and he can be available for Tuesday but for today he wasn't available. It's the same with [Andy Robertson (calf)]. 

"Bobby [Firmino]'s out; [he] played a lot of games for us obviously, we have two fresh strikers there, so that makes sense to make that change.

"I always think about how can we win the next game and then you need fresh legs for that if you have them. That's why we made the changes.

"It's always about the last game and not about the next game. 

"We are 100 per cent focused on the next game and that's Everton. They deserve all our respect and they have all our respect so it will be a really tough game today, hopefully for both sides.

"It's clear that this is, for us, a very, very important game and that's what we want to show."