Following on from the magical win against Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp’s squad management, in order to rest starters and also to cover key injuries, will prove to be crucial. Klopp will need to call on all of his experience as a top level coach during the next four weeks of the Reds’ season.
He has a busy domestic fixture list to contend with, alongside the big push to win the Europa League. Some ill-timed injuries to experienced players like Jordan Henderson and the emerging Emre Can will no doubt force him to rethink his selections in coming games.
Liverpool are entering the business end of the season, with the fantastic double reward of silverware and a Champions League spot still to be contested. The barnstorming display at Anfield against a potent Dortmund side has galvanized both the team and the fanbase to achieve what was once thought to be a very long shot. The mouth-watering prospect of a European final in Basel next month is appealing in itself, but the additional prize of a Champions League entry pass is the current Holy Grail for all Kopites.
Of course, Villarreal will have plenty to say about their own prospects of playing in the Europa League showpiece. They are currently one of the meanest sides defensively in Spain and are sitting in a very respectable fourth position in La Liga.
The Yellow Submarines may well qualify for the Champions League via their league position as the top three in Spain qualify into the group stage and the fourth position faces the play off route into the group stages proper. Villarreal are currently six points clear of the fifth-placed team, Athletic Bilbao, and have a game in hand over them. Given the recent success of La Liga teams in European competitions and the current drought that Premier League teams have endured in European adventures, Liverpool on paper have a very tough opponent in the semi-final.
The starting line-up for Liverpool this weekend versus Bournemouth gave a clear indication of Klopp’s priorities. It is obvious that Liverpool only have a slim chance of qualifying for any European slot via their league points haul. The fans, the players and coaches understand that they are two games away from a winner-takes-all final in Basel.
All efforts should be prioritized towards ensuring that the strongest line-up is played in the remaining European games. The injuries to Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent Christian Benteke will open the door for squad players like Joe Allen, Lucas, and perhaps some of the youngsters like Jordan Ibe and Sheyi Ojo. Klopp will also most likely use the non-Europa League registered players like Jon Flanagan and Conor Randall more in the Premier League for the rest of the season.
This could be a twofold project for Klopp: he gets to use players that don’t play regularly, thus assessing their futures with the club. Secondly, he can give vital rest to the current key players in the side such as Philippe Coutinho, James Milner, and the centre-back pairing of Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren.
Established and emerging stars like Philippe Coutinho, a re-energized and injury-free Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, and Roberto Firmino, are hitting prime form at the right time. Allowing these players time to recover and rest between the marquee games is essential to the Reds hopes of success. Wise squad rotation and player management is the key for the remainder of the season. If done so effectively, the attacking threats could well fire the Anfield side to glory on May 18th in Basel.
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