Liverpool
Klopp Confirms This Player Will Start As Liverpool Boss Plans Changes vs Swansea
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed this player is set to start for Liverpool against Swansea on Sunday with the Reds boss ready to make wholesale changes.
Liverpool will turn their attention back to Premier League matters when they take on Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Ahead of the game, boss Jurgen Klopp has been speaking at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s confirmed to reporters that young goalkeeper Danny Ward is set to start this weekend.
With Thursday’s huge Europa League semi-final second leg against Villarreal on the horizon, Klopp is ready to rest number one Simon Mignolet, opening the door for Ward to make just his second first team appearance of the season.
The 22-year-old impressed on his debut during a 2-1 win at AFC Bournemouth two weeks ago and now it looks as though the Welsh international is set to be handed the gloves against Swansea on Sunday.
Klopp is quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo:
“Danny did really well against Bournemouth, especially with no rhythm, it was very impressive,”
“I haven’t had a final talk with (goalkeeping coach) John Achterberg yet.
“But it is likely he will play at Swansea. I just need to find out how he feels after the long trip.
“He will certainly get another game before the end of the season because of the intensity of our schedule. Yes, probably (he will play).”
Liverpool kick off at 12pm on Sunday and the trip to Wales comes shortly after the Merseysiders Europa League first leg against Villarreal with the first team squad not returning from Spain until 3.30am last night.
Klopp has hinted that as well as Mignolet, he’s ready to rest a number of his other first team players with the likes of Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne, Alberto Moreno, Lucas Leiva, James Milner, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino likely to be given a breather on Sunday.
Klopp continued:
“We have to respect the intensity of the last game and think about line up for Sunday at 12pm,”
“It is not about next Thursday because if you think now about next Thursday you have no chance on Sunday.
“We will always respect the Premier League. But we need to have a look at the players.
“We came home at 3.30am so I’m pretty sure nobody slept immediately when they went home.”
With Klopp ready to make wholesale changes, the likes of Brad Smith, Connor Randall, Martin Skrtel, Pedro Chirivella, Kevin Stewart, Cameron Brannagan, Sheyi Ojo and Jordon Ibe could all feature against Swansea.
Last weekend’s draw with Newcastle has left Liverpool seventh in the Premier League table and nine points off the top four so they have little left to play for in the league. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Klopp is going to prioritise Europe and make sure their key players are fresh for Villarreal on Thursday.