‘No chance we do that’: Klopp felt it would have been wrong to include one Liverpool star vs Forest

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Jurgen Klopp explained why Sadio Mané didn’t play for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The boss felt it was wrong to use him.

Jurgen Klopp named an interesting XI to take on Nottingham Forest today. There was a mix of first-XI players and squad members – and every wide player missing.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has a hamstring injury, of course, but Andy Robertson, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah all sat this one for Liverpool. It certainly shows their strength in depth that the team still looked very strong.

But why were those four absent? Klopp explained ahead of the game, with a particularly interesting reason for Mané.

“Robbo is ill – so it finally got him as well,” Klopp told ITV. “Mo felt that injury again a little bit after the game, got another knock on it. It was clear we don’t take a risk.

“And then it was clear we don’t take Sadio because of the importance of the game they face in Africa. No chance that we do that.

“We have the opportunity to give them the rest they need in this moment because they have two massive games coming up.”

Sadio Mané absent for Liverpool

So Mané didn’t play because Klopp wanted to give him rest ahead of Senegal’s games this month. It’s an interesting decision – one only really possible because Liverpool faced Championship opposition.

Those games certainly are massive, though. Senegal face Egypt in a pair of World Cup qualifiers – two rematches of the AFCON final, then. And two matches against Salah.

They’ll be as intense as it gets and it does make sense for Liverpool to give both wingers rest here. They should return as fresh as possible, while it lowers the chances of niggling injuries on their return.

But also, Mané and Salah will certainly be prioritising those games over this Liverpool fixture. It’s a wonderful gesture from Klopp to allow them to do that – though, you’d expect nothing less from the boss.