Jurgen Klopp has thrown down the gauntlet to his established Liverpool stars and warned they now face serious competition to play against Chelsea.
A much-changed Liverpool side recorded their first win of 2023 at Wolves in an FA Cup replay to set-up a fourth round tie at Brighton. The Reds earned a first clean sheet since November with just their sixth win in 15 games away from Anfield this season.
Harvey Elliott’s solo goal was a worthy winner but just as importantly was Liverpool’s first domestic away clean sheet since the goalless draw at Everton on September 3. Klopp was relieved to see his side get back to winning ways after making eight changes to the team that was embarrassed 3-0 at Brighton in the Premier League to slip to ninth.
The German coach ditched his tried-and-trusted midfield trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara at Molineux after humbling defeats at Brentford and Brighton either side of the 2-2 draw with Wolves.
Instead he went for an injection of fresh energy and new blood as Naby Keita made his first start since last May and Stefan Bajcetic, 18, impressed on just his third senior start as Thiago retained his place.
Klopp was delighted with the response which included Joe Gomez excelling in defence to stake his claim in the ongoing absence of Virgil van Dijk ahead of Chelsea’s visit on Saturday. Asked if players had forced their way into his plans for the weekend, Klopp replied: “Yeah. I don’t think it will be right after one game to say that will be the team for the next eight weeks.
“But the door is open to everyone. Whoever fights has a good chance to play.
“We are not in a casting show but we have had this game and then four days to train. And after the Chelsea game another five or six days to train until the next game.
“In the past we won a lot of games so why would you make drastic changes. But I am not blind to who shows up in training.”
Klopp suggested post match striker Darwin Nunez is likely to return against Chelsea. Cody Gakpo, a £37million buy from PSV Eindhoven this month, probably didn’t do enough to replace him up top. But youngster Elliott took his chance with a spectacular goal for his fourth of the season.
Elliott,19, reflected: “I have been judged a bit on assists and goals and it is something I have definitely been working on. I felt like it was the right opportunity and thankfully it came off.
“It's a big sigh of relief, to be honest, I feel like personally I haven't been at my best after the World Cup. To get the goal is good for my confidence and hopefully I can take it into the weekend now.
“It's going to be a tough one but hopefully we can put it right at Anfield at home in the Premier League.”
