Despite the comfortable starting position in the Champions League second leg against Benfica Lisbon on Wednesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on DAZN), Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp does not want to rest any players for the cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday.
"The next game will not affect my line-up tomorrow," Klopp clarified on Tuesday.
The fact that his team won the first leg in Lisbon 3-1 was "a good basis," added the 54-year-old.
"But if they score a goal, the game changes."
Liverpool had already led 2-0 after the first duel against Inter Milan in the round of 16, but only narrowly progressed after a 0-1 defeat in the second leg.
"We see it as a very important game for us," Klopp said of the duel with Benfica: "Last year we tried so hard to qualify for the Champions League and now we can make it to the semi-finals, which is incredible .”
"Have to see who's fresh enough for the game"
Liverpool's "super intensive game plan" and thus the last game played influence his line-up, explained Klopp.
On Sunday, the Reds had an intense 2-2 draw with leaders Manchester City in the Premier League, which cost them strength.
"As far as I know, nobody is injured, but we have to see who is fresh enough for the game," said the successful coach, whose team has just one point less than City in the league.
Klopp is sober about the fact that after winning the League Cup, his team is still in the running in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup and has the chance to win four titles this season.
"You can't fight for four trophies, you can only be part of four competitions," said the 54-year-old on Tuesday.
"Thankfully we're doing well enough this year that we didn't go out early."