Firmino Did Not Have To Start Against Barcelona – Klopp

Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp has broken down his reason for not starting Roberto Firmino against Barcelona.

Brazil international Firmino was a major doubt for Wednesday’s match after suffering a recent injury.

On the forward’s condition before the game, Klopp said, “That’s how it is with the short periods between the games – you cannot be sure.

‘Bobby wants to [play] and the medical department told me ‘yes, it’s good’ but then you have to make sure – I’m not sure if 90 minutes or whatever.”

“So he doesn’t have to start, that’s why we start like we start. Bobby is on the bench, that’s good news.”

‘The boys are all in good shape. [But] Hendo played five games in a row, for example, and we play on Saturday and Tuesday.

‘Millie didn’t play for two games so it was clear we had to use him. Fabinho didn’t play for two games so it was clear we had to use him.”

‘Naby didn’t have that many games during the whole season, Gini didn’t play all the games.

‘That’s why midfield, where it’s really intense, is where we have to make sure we have legs there.

‘It’s the same for Trent; it was clear when Joe would be available again that there would be a game and I think today it makes absolute sense in that position.

‘For Trent it’s good, he can refresh a little bit, there are important games to come.

‘But the first thing we wanted to make was a good line-up for tonight and for a good line-up you need legs and that’s what we tried to make sure.”