Liverpool will rotate heavily this season, even in the early fixtures as Jurgen Klopp aims to keep everyone fit and energized for Premier League success.
Liverpool fans who get emotional about team sheets and lineups will be in for a rollercoaster in 2019/20. Jurgen Klopp looks set to rotate more than ever before as the club seek to add more trophies to yesterday’s UEFA Super Cup success.
The victory in Turkey over Chelsea on penalties was the Reds’ third real game of the season after the Community Shield against Manchester City and last week’s Premier League opener against Norwich City.
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The manager trotted out the same team in those opening fixtures – only missing Sadio Mane from the team that lifted the Champions League in May.
Last night was the first time that Liverpool played two games-in-a-week this season and the manager did not shy away from making rotation changes despite the desire to win the Super Cup.
Klopp rested three of his key players – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gini Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino. Those changes were a little shocking for fans on social media who were convinced the boss would send out all his big guns.
However, yesterday confirms a few things for the coming months that fans will need to get used to: rotation will happen regularly once the games come twice a week; that big players will be rested; that changes will be made regardless of the importance of the fixture.
How long until we see Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson or Mohamed Salah given a rest? Maybe not in August, but surely once the Champions League group stage starts and the Reds are back to two games-a-week.
Klopp has done this to a degree in the previous two seasons but with more fixtures than ever before it will be a feature for the year. But it is all designed for one purpose: to be fit and healthy in March, April and May.
That is when the title and the Champions League will be decided and Jurgen Klopp is planning for Liverpool to be busy at both ends of the season.