Jurgen Klopp appeared to hint at his FA Cup plans for Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Jurgen Klopp appeared to drop a hint into his FA Cup plans for Liverpool. The Reds travel to face Manchester United on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp won’t have been happy with Liverpool’s performance against Burnley. But then, he likely hasn’t been thrilled with them for five games now.

Liverpool lost 1-0 at Anfield – their first Premier League home defeat for four years. It was also their fifth straight league game without a win and their fourth in which they failed to score.

That’s about as bad a run of form as imaginable.

So what was extra noticeable about Thursday was Klopp’s first XI. He left both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firimino on the bench, instead starting Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in attack.

It’s difficult to explain why, unless Klopp was letting us know his plans for the FA Cup.

15 years

Liverpool haven’t won the FA Cup since 2006, making only one final since then. Klopp has never really looked to correct that, either, frequently putting out heavily rotated sides in the competition.

Take last season, for instance. Liverpool hosted Everton in the Third Round but while the Toffees put out their first-team, the Reds’ only serious starts were Joe Gomez and James Milner.

Everyone else was either a squad option or a kid.

Klopp played a literal young team against Shrewsbury in the Fourth Round. He upgraded it for the Fifth Round against Chelsea, but still had teenagers out there alongside squad players and some first-team stars.

But did Klopp rest Salah and Firmino for Sunday? It certainly appears like he did. He may just have an eye on progression and a run in the competition.

It makes sense for us and not only to chase the first triumph since 2006 and first Double since 1986. The competition could be a great way to rotate games around the squad and help find the team’s form.

That’ll be the major hope for Sunday. Knock United out of the cup and get back to winning ways – a statement and a positive result.

Klopp’s first-team against Burnley hinted that he’s thinking that way.