Jürgen Klopp explains team selection for Stoke clash
The importance of qualifying for next season's Champions League dictated Jürgen Klopp's decisions when choosing his Liverpool XI to face Stoke City.
The Reds host the Potters at Anfield with three points required to remain on course to secure a top-four finish and with it a place in the 2018-19 edition of Europe’s elite club competition.
Klopp’s men have the second leg of a semi-final in this year’s tournament to come in Rome on Wednesday night, of course, but the manager reiterated his absolute focus on Stoke first.
“For us, each game of the last few is a Champions League game,” he said.
“Like today against Stoke – it’s for qualification for next year. We want to be, and have to be, part of it again. The next game is a semi-final for this year’s Champions League.
“[But] the first thought I had was to make a line-up with which we can beat Stoke. That was the plan. It will be difficult enough anyway.”