Liverpool must take it easy for throwaway Midtjylland clash

Liverpool must take it easy on Wednesday night.

The Reds are expected to take a full contingent of squad and youth players as they jet off to Denmark for their final group D tie with Midtjylland on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp is expected to send out a relatively young, untried and untested side fielded for the Reds in Copenhagen, especially with five subs available.

This will give the youth, kids, squad players a chance for some quality minutes in a big-time Champions League tie.

Let’s face it, folks, this one is a throwaway. The Reds have advanced in the week last which saw Klopp and company send off a plucky Ajax side at Anfield on the weight of a Curtis Jones goal and superb performances by Jurgen’s youth corp: Jones, Neco Williams and Coaihmin Kelleher in goal.

So this is the chance to give regular starters and star players an opportunity to rest and get fit for a tightly scheduled holiday fixture list that begins with Fulham away and includes a return to Anfield in a week to face front-runners tied Tottenham.

Without looking too far forward, Klopp will be expecting his charges to keep each match in focus to ensure best results. Kelleher has been phenomenal between the sticks and has back-to-back clean sheets on his Premier League and Champions League debut. He should continue to shine here as he has earned this one.

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Kostas Tsimikas for Andrew Robertson is highly likely, as Robbo has been nursing some niggling injuries to foot and hamstring of late and is in much need of a break and rest. Rhys Williams and Nat Philips have already had some stellar minutes in the autumn campaign and both should be expected to get a run-out here.

Neco Williams has made some huge strides to silence critics and doubters, who a month ago were smearing and shading him unmercifully on social media; largely without reason. He is proving his quality and heart in these last two starts at the full-back replacing an injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, and will get a start here, which is well deserved.

Jordan Henderson, the skipper, could be called on to start here to keep maturity and composure in a very young side for a CL tie. Couple with Jordan, we could see Curtis Jones (local lad much in the mould of a young Steven Gerrard) and Naby Keita returning from a hamstring issue. Keita saw some much-needed match time on the weekend past in the Reds thrashing of Wolves.

Up top expect Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mo Salah to get a much-needed rest. Look for Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi to round out the starters in Denmark.

Klopp has said the team will play to win and there is little doubt Jurgen will expect this chosen side to give a hundred per cent to the cause.

While stars and starters will be in attendance and on the bench, I do not expect Jurgen to give any thought to a nod from these key players as their time on the pitch over the next fortnight is almost assured; notwithstanding further injuries to an already injury-plagued campaign.