Klopp explains Trent decision and midfield selection
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s recent return from injury and the availability of James Milner informed Jürgen Klopp’s selection decision for Sunday’s match against Manchester United.
Right-back Alexander-Arnold completed the full 90 minutes for the first time following a knee injury that sidelined him for four weeks in Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Starting with this afternoon’s fixture, Liverpool face a period of three games in seven days - leading Klopp to name Alexander-Arnold on the bench at Old Trafford.
“Just because Trent was out for a while, played the last game and we have two games coming up,” the manager said, when asked to explain his starting line-up.
“I don’t like to think too much about the games coming up usually, but it’s pretty much the first moment in the season for while that we could make a decision with Millie and we will need Trent in the next weeks very much.
“So I don’t want to do it today and Wednesday, for example, which is a difficult task and we have Millie available, that helps as well, so all good.”
On what he wants from Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho in midfield on Sunday, Klopp continued: “Good football. I thought it makes sense. It’s a very physical game, United is physically strong and you need to be mature as well in these games, so that’s the reason.”