Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw vs Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Sunday and after the match, Klopp reserved special praise for Takumi Minamino and Naby Keita.
Both these players have found life really hard in the Premier League this season but their manager chose to trust them and hand them starts vs the Toffees at Goodison Park.
And speaking after the draw, the German boss chose to explain how he had planned his substitutions and why he couldn’t enforce them in time.
“Before the game, I had the idea that I wanted to change really early and use the opportunities that five changes could give us,” he told Liverpool Echo.
“We thought why wait for tired legs when you can bring on five players. That didn’t work out 100%. Taki was in the game. At the beginning, it was a bit difficult but then he was in the game.
“The change at half-time was a pure idea from me. It had nothing to do with Taki’s performance in the first half.
“Naby looked absolutely good. He looked good in training for sure and that’s the reason he played today.
“We could bring on Gini Wijnaldum too. We had to try it because we were wondering how to deal with the intensity. We play in three days again against Crystal Palace.
“If we played 11 players for 90 minutes today and then asked them to go again on Wednesday, then I would have a real problem.
“You can’t underestimate that after four weeks pre-season and nine weeks’ break before, we are playing two games in three days. That’s why we have to think a little bit before we have a problem.
“We tried that, but in the end, you never will be perfect. But the performance of Naby was really good.”
Will Minamino & Naby Keita start vs Palace?
Minamino and Naby Keita might have put in a fine shift vs Everton but the pair will unquestionably move back to the bench in midweek when Liverpool take on Crystal Palace.
Mo Salah was not risked on Sunday but the Egyptian will be back in the starting line-up on Wednesday meaning Minamino will have to make way.
And as far as Naby Keita is concerned, Klopp will want to give him some much-needed rest as games are going to be played in really short intervals for the next month and a half. Wijnaldum is expected to come into central midfield alongside Fabinho.
