Klopp hints at heavy rotation during Liverpool’s April fixtures

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has reiterated the importance of April for the team and suggested that he’ll be using his squad rather than a select XI of his best players.

Following the international break, Liverpool have key Premier League games against Tottenham and Everton and a Europa League quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund. If we beat the Germans, we’ll have a Europa League semi-final leg as well.

“There is still so much to play for,” Klopp told the ECHO, while away in Tenerife with members of the squad not on international duty.

“April will be busy but we are used to playing this many games.

“We will have to make some hard decisions over the line up.

“Before Southampton, we had Firmino out and Hendo ill – that can be a problem.

“We have a big squad so it’s good for us to have this many games in April. Everyone will be important. We have to really fight through this time.

“There are no easy games. But if we are all together then you have seen how we can play.”

In reference to rotation, Klopp’s defended it by referring to the Southampton game – when we were excellent in the first-halt but abysmal in the second – allowing a 2-0 lead turn into a defeat.

“The first half at Southampton was a good example,” he continued.

“We showed our potential. We showed everything – how strong we can be.

“But in the second half with less power we were not the same team.

“We have to work for this. We know the way. Now we cannot really develop things. We just have to take what we can get.

“There are a lot of games coming up but they are good games and we’re looking forward to them.”

These suggestions for us intimate that Klopp may rest players for the Premier League games ahead of and between the Europa League clash.

Europa remains our priority as it gives us a better chance of getting into the Champions League than our possibility of a top four finish.

While Daniel Sturridge, Coutinho and Roberto Firmino will all play against Dortmund in both legs if fit, don’t be surprised to see one or two drop out for the league matches with Spurs Stoke before each tie.

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