Whenever you lose a penalty shootout, the same question always arises post-match.
Why did [insert player] not take one?!
Today, fans’ ponderings turned to Jordan Henderson and James Milner. Both have taken and scored penalties for us this season, but neither took one in the shootout.
Instead we saw Can, Lucas, Coutinho, and Lallana take responsibility – with the latter three all missing.
In his post-match interviews, Klopp has confirmed that Milner would have taken the fifth, and that added that “all those who were available, took one”.
The quotes were reported by Liverpool Echo journalist Neil Jones on Twitter.
Klopp says Milner was on penalty #5. On Henderson “we asked these five players and they s aid yes.”
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesecho) 28 February 2016
Klopp says “no chance” Sturridge could take a pen. “He had cramp, he could hardly walk. All those who were available, took one.” — Neil Jones (@neiljonesecho) 28 February 2016
In the same interview, he seemed to suggest that Henderson wasn’t asked to take a kick, and the Sturridge was physically unable to do so after playing two hours of football for the first time in more than two seasons.
SEE MORE
Klopp: “We will carry on”
Liverpool ratings
Match report
Do you think we made the wrong choices, or is it merely a case of hindsight being a wonderful thing?
Let us know in the comments.