Jurgen Klopp revealed that Diogo Jota suffered a dead leg which kept him out of Liverpool 's starting XI at Burnley.
The Reds faced the Premier League 's bottom-dwellers on Sunday afternoon and red-hot Jota was hoping to continue his stellar goalscoring form.
Indeed, on Saturday morning, he had been due to start for the Reds.
But the 25-year-old, who had bagged five goals in his last four games, started on the bench in Lancashire, with Sadio Mane taking his place after helping Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations a week ago.
"Jota was due to start, with Sadio coming from the bench today but Jota had a dead leg and couldn't train yesterday," Klopp explained pre-match. "Now he looks fine but we were not sure."
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Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah made his first start since the AFCON, with his Egypt losing in the final to Mane's Senegal after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
That meant £50million signing Luis Diaz also began on the bench, despite having impressed on his full debut in the 2-0 win against Leicester City on Thursday, in which Jota scored both goals.
"He has the skillset and character. One of the best first games I saw from a new player but we have to see how he adapts, there's no rush," Klopp said of Diaz.
"It was a good chance to start him with Sadio not here and Mo back from an intense tournament. Yes, Luis showed up."
But the Liverpool boss reverted to his famous front three of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino, who should have known how difficult facing Burnley can be
Klopp made clear how aware of the Clarets' threat he was in the build-up, adding: "I had the pleasure to watch Burnley against [Manchester] United [a 1-1 draw on Tuesday]. This situation explains the Premier League the best.
"The quality they produced was incredible. It was a proper team performance. There is a big possibility for them to still stay in the league."
The Reds manager went on to say: "I don't think any other manager could have achieved what Sean [Dyche] achieved at Burnley, that's the truth.
"I was not here when they were relegated and came back, since I've been here they were in the Premier League. If you ask me, Burnley are always Premier League.
"It was one of the two or three places in the league where you think 'I'm not really looking forward to it', especially at the beginning.
"The first time we played there, I thought 'Oh my God'. Then you get more experience and learn more about it, you realise the battle around and on the touchline is part of the deal.
"But my respect couldn't be bigger, I have to say this. The resources they have in comparison to other countries are really, really good but in comparison with other Premier League clubs is obviously not that good.
"Staying that stable in the Premier League is a massive achievement. It's as big as winning the league with other clubs."
