Chris Sutton thinks Jurgen Klopp’s decision to bench key players for Liverpool against Newcastle United last weekend would previously have been ‘unthinkable.’
Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, Sutton claimed that the players left out of Klopp’s eleven show the depth of quality Liverpool now have.
“The squad which Jurgen Klopp has assembled over his time at Liverpool, I think this is his strongest squad,” he said. “To think that he left Mo Salah on the bench, Thiago on the bench, Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench.
“In previous seasons that would have been absolutely unthinkable.”
Sutton also shared his belief that Liverpool will benefit from a Manchester City slip-up in the Premier League title race.
“These are two great sides, I’ve just got a feeling City are going to slip up at some stage,” he claimed.
Here’s hoping. It’s exhausting waiting for Pep Guardiola’s relentless team to drop points, but we keep on dreaming.
Jurgen’s gamble pays off
It was a gamble from Klopp to rest so many key players for Saturday’s trip to an in-form Newcastle.
There would surely have been City fans delighted to see The Reds’ teamsheet before the game. But Liverpool got the job done.
Those who came into the side such as James Milner and Joe Gomez were actually Liverpool’s best players.
The competition for places that those kind of displays encourage is vital on the quadruple quest. Everybody wants to be a part of what could be an historic campaign for the club.
When given the chance to impress, players are desperate to show that they should be relied upon more often. Good performances by those on the fringes only drives the regular starters on to hit even greater heights.
The balance in Liverpool’s squad right now is perfect. Klopp is fortunate to have had a pretty much fully-fit group as he aims to do what no manager in England has done before.
The boss is likely to ring the changes again for tonight’s visit to Villarreal. Liverpool are looking good for a place in the Champions League final after a 2-0 win in the first-leg.
Having been able to rest players on Saturday, the difference-makers for Liverpool should be raring to go. Masterful rotation once again from Klopp in a season where his squad management has been near perfect.