Jurgen Klopp has explained his decision to replace Virgil van Dijk at half-time in Liverpool’s dreadful Premier League defeat at Brentford.
Van Dijk was one of three changes made during the interval as the Reds sought to respond after slumping 2-0 behind at the Gtech Community Stadium on Monday evening.
While Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled a goal back shortly into the second half, Liverpool eventually lost 3-1 in a major blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification.
AS IT HAPPENED: Brentford vs Liverpool final score and goals recap
YOUR SHOUT: Rate the Liverpool players after the 3-1 defeat to Brentford
READ MORE: Liverpool 'exploring innovative £44m deal' to sign Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes
And Klopp revealed Van Dijk, who was replaced by Joel Matip, had complained of discomfort but allayed fears of a significant injury.
“Virgil felt a little bit the muscle and said it is fine, and he is a very good judge of these kind of things,” said the Reds boss. “But I didn’t want to take any risks.
“The physios looked quite happy when I said we don’t take risks. It’s not an injury, he just felt the intensity.”
Naby Keita and Andy Robertson were also introduced at half-time for Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas respectively, and Klopp was pleased with the contribution of the duo.
“The other two changes were tactical,” he said. “We obviously had the opportunities to bring on Naby, who I think had a really good game, and Robbo.
“Robbo with the very first action at the start of the second half was exactly what we needed. We needed that speed in behind. That was the reason for those two changes.”
Despite Liverpool being much improved at the start of the second half, Klopp insisted there was no grand message to his players during the interval.
“We started well in the first half as well, didn’t we?” said the Liverpool boss. “Nothing really special (was said). We had to just remind the boys of the things we needed to do to create Brentford problems.
“We showed that immediately and at 2-1 we were much closer to scoring an equaliser than they were to scoring a third, but it stayed a big fight because Brentford threw everything in.
“They deserved the win, and that is clear. The second goal decided the game as coming out in the second half and scoring the equaliser would have been much nicer than it just being our first goal.”
READ NEXT:
Liverpool player ratings as Van Dijk, Tsimikas and Elliott awful at Brentford
Liverpool have crossed unforgivable line as Alisson quietly hints at huge problem
Jamie Carragher gives damning half-time verdict that sums up Liverpool problems
Gakpo and Henderson absences explained as Liverpool line-up out for Brentford
- Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool 'will not splash the cash' amid midfielder rumours
