Jurgen Klopp insists the looming FA Cup semi-final showdown with title rivals Manchester City will have no bearing on his Liverpool team selection for Wednesday’s Champions League visit of Benfica to Anfield.
English football’s two best teams go head to head for the second time in six days at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, having played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in the Premier League only last weekend.
That instant classic - which saw Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane twice hit back for Liverpool after goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus - resulted in City retaining their narrow one-point lead at the top-flight summit with only seven matches left to play this season.
Both teams have Champions League quarter-final business to attend to before Saturday’s eagerly-awaited FA Cup showdown, with City - who lead their tie 1-0 - travelling to face Atletico Madrid and Liverpool hosting Benfica tomorrow night.
The Reds hold a two-goal advantage over their Portuguese opponents after a lively 3-1 victory in Lisbon last week secured courtesy of efforts from Ibrahima Konate, Mane and Luis Diaz.
And while Klopp can likely afford to rest one or two key players to manage such a hectic schedule in Liverpool’s pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple, he insists the prospect of another high-octane clash with City won’t dictate his plans.
Liverpool’s trophy quest is currently being significantly aided by a lack of injuries, with a fully-fit squad for the run-in as things stand.
“The next game has no influence on the lineup for tomorrow but the last game has,” Klopp told reporters at his pre-Benfica press conference on Tuesday.
“Super intense schedule. No one injured as far as I know but we need to look at who is freshest.
“A super important game (against Benfica). We tried so hard to get to the Champions League and now we can make it to the semis.”
Meanwhile, Klopp was once again hugely critical of the Premier League and television scheduling of the weeks ahead, with Liverpool facing a lunchtime trip to Newcastle on Saturday April 30.
Should they get past Benfica, the club’s Champions League semi-final first leg would take place three days earlier, on Wednesday 27.
“If we get through tomorrow we have a semi-final, and then BT and the Premier League thought we should have Newcastle away at 12.30,” Klopp complained.
“The schedule, and how people use the fame in the moment - Liverpool is hot and everyone wants to see them - they couldn’t care less. It’s just not OK.
“If we play a Champions League semi-final, find me another league in the world and another broadcaster in the world who would put that team in a 12.30?
“Throw them a little stick between the legs. What are you doing? Why would you do that? It’s because nobody cares. It’s unbelievably difficult.”
