Liverpool manager Klopp explains why he excluded defender from starting lineup

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has spoken out about why Joe Gomez was excluded from his side’s starting lineup during their game against Southampton this weekend.

Gomez was called up to the England national team for their recent friendly internationals against Germany and Brazil and he managed to excel which caused many to call for him to receive more game time for the Liverpool first team.

Gomez however did not start during the game against the Saints with Klopp instead opting to utilize youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold in defence.

The youngster was one of the standout performers for the Reds who went on to win the game 3-0 and looks like a promising prospect for the future.

Speaking about why Gomez did not start, Klopp said: “This will happen over the next few weeks, we will have to make decisions. Usually I don’t think too much about the next game, but in this case I have to think about the next 13 games.

“I haven’t already planned them, but we need to try to. We cannot play one lineup until they are all injured, we need to mix it up—even if we win games like today.

“Joe had two games in the last week and it’s not a problem, he could have played today. But then for Tuesday I don’t think it would have been a big chance or a good idea to bring him again.”