Jürgen Klopp explains three line-up changes v Tottenham
Jürgen Klopp has explained why Tottenham Hotspur’s potential approach to today’s contest came into his thinking when selecting his Liverpool line-up for the Anfield clash.
The Reds have made three changes for the visit of Mauricio Pochettino’s side, two of which have occurred in midfield as Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum return in place of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Klopp said: “These three guys in midfield, if they get the support from the two wingers and Bobby then it can be kind of a wall you have to try and go over or something. We are pretty solid there and we have to be against them.
“They always do something, especially in these games, special against us. Set it up a little bit and where we are strong, they try to turn it around, like maybe bringing Son into a very offensive position high left when Trent is going [forward] and stuff like this.
“Then we lose the ball and there is a counter-attacking opportunity. It’s always how it is, but you need to be as tuned as possible and that’s what we try to do with the line-up.”
Liverpool’s other line-up tweak from the midweek victory in Genk sees Trent Alexander-Arnold return after illness in place of James Milner.
Meanwhile, with Joel Matip still ruled out, Dejan Lovren has been selected as Virgil van Dijk’s partner once more, with Joe Gomez on the bench.
Klopp added: “Dejan has got rhythm now. Joe is completely back, he knows that; it’s just how it is sometimes, he was not at 100 per cent best shape.
“Now he is back and good to know because Joel is still out and we will have to change in that position. Joe was completely in contention for the last game, we just thought Milly made more sense for that game. Apart from that, Joe is in really good shape now and that’s good timing.”