Jurgen Klopp’s team selection raised a few eyebrows this evening, when Roberto Firmino was named on the bench, despite not being injured, for the Champions League QF second-leg with FC Porto.
In his place, the boss has gone for Divock Origi, the Belgian who’s become very much our fourth choice attacker – in front of Daniel Sturridge or Xherdan Shaqiri – over the past few months.
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Firmino is usually crucial to our attack, but with a 2-0 lead from Anfield, the boss thinks we can afford to give the Brazilian a break before the Cardiff game on Sunday.
Elsewhere, he’s also given Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita a break, using James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum either side of Fabinho, instead.
“No issue, actually – just respecting the fantastic form Divock Origi is in for weeks or months already, and bringing in fresh legs,” the boss told BT Sport, cited by the official website.
“That’s all, the same we do in midfield because we expect a very intense game, we expect a hard-fighting Porto side. So we need to be ready for that.
“Of course Bobby is ready for that but because he never gives himself a rest, from time to time we have to do it. But it’s not a rest actually, it’s bringing in Div and having that option: speed and all that stuff. That’s what we thought.”
Origi is a decent option and he offers pace in behind, although not the same kind of all-pitch presence as Bobby.
With Mo Salah and Sadio Mane on the field though, we have enough of a threat – especially considering Porto have to play offensively to get back into the game.