Boss: I've got difficult decisions to make for Sunday
Jürgen Klopp admits he has tough decisions to make for Sunday's Capital One Cup final at Wembley given the rare situation since his arrival at Anfield of having 'too many players' to choose from.
Liverpool face Barclays Premier League rivals Manchester City at the national stadium as they seek to add silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet for the first time since 2012.
The manager has made just a single change to the starting line-up in the past three matches and with the squad’s fitness issues steadily receding, difficult calls await Klopp.
He said: “I spoke about it this morning with the lads. We have had a few [injury] problems since I’ve been here, but never the problem that we had too many players.
“Making a squad this time is two things – the best thing I could ever do and the most difficult I had to do until now, because a few players will be disappointed with our decisions, for sure.
“This morning I had 13 players in training and it was the highest level. I don’t want to say it was because of the final but it was the highest level. They are all ready and now I have to make decisions – overnight, not today. I will make them, that’s no problem.
“This competition until now has been a real competition for the whole squad. We can start with the first game when I was not here, against Carlisle, Adam Bogdan made three decent saves in the penalty shootout.
“The second game was a really different line-up, a young line-up; Joao Teixeira played, Clyney scored a goal, [Cameron] Brannagan played and a lot of players were involved.
“[It was] a perfect game at Southampton and everybody could enjoy it. The semi-final against Stoke and the rematch, [Jordon] Ibe scored.
“At the end, if we win this competition, it’s a win for the whole squad and not only for the players who are involved on Sunday. For sure, the players will feel a little bit different in this moment, but hopefully they are smart enough to see it like it is. That’s what I said [to them].”
While the Reds were in Europa League action against Augsburg at Anfield on Thursday night, City travelled to Kiev for a Champions League tie the previous evening.
At his pre-match press conference, Klopp was asked whether the timing and related travel of their fixtures would give either side a physical advantage at Wembley.
The boss responded: “They flew, not a walk! That’s OK, I know this and it’s not too difficult.
“We had a game yesterday. I don’t think it should be an issue, I don’t think we should think about this. They will be fit and we will be fit.
“It’s a final, so nobody cares where you came from or where you played your last game, that’s nothing to think about. It has been a long season until now and both teams have had a lot of games. So there’s no advantage – it’s open.”