Jamie Carragher claims Jurgen Klopp is prioritising the Champions League after making SEVEN changes for the visit of Fulham as Roberto Firmino joins Liverpool’s ever-increasing …
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Jamie Carragher admits he is surprised at Liverpool making seven changes for the visit of Fulham on Sunday but claims Jurgen Klopp is looking to prioritise the Champions League.
Klopp named a shock starting line-up for the Premier League clash at Anfield with Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench and Roberto Firmino left out of the matchday squad entirely.
The German named an inexperienced back four with Neco Williams, Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips lining up alongside Andy Robertson, while Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones were dropped for James Milner and Naby Keita.
Jamie Carragher claims Jurgen Klopp (middle) is focusing on the Champions League after making seven changes for the visit of Fulham on Sunday
Klopp changed his squad with Rhys Williams (right) and Neco Williams (second right) starting
Carragher believes those dropped from the starting eleven deserved to be left out after five consecutive home defeats in the top-flight but also hinted that Klopp may have European success on his mind this season.
The Sky Sports pundit claimed: ‘I thought they’d make changes but maybe not seven. Nobody can really complain that they’ve been left out.
‘The thing that is interesting is we talk about they’ve got to be in the Champions League next season but they are in the competition now, so no doubt the manager has one eye on the Champions League as well.’
Carragher claims those dropped to the bench cannot complain after a torrid top-flight record
Sadio Mane (right) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (left) started on the bench for the Sunday tie
Klopp announced that new signing Ozan Kabak and Firmino have small niggles ahead of a busy schedule which sees the Reds face RB Leipzig in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday before travelling to Wolves the following Monday.
When asked about the switches, Klopp told Sky Sports: ‘(We made) two changes we had to make because of little injuries to Bobby and Ozan. The other changes is because of the intense period we have.’
Carragher, meanwhile, claims Scott Parker will be delighted to have seen the starting line-up with so many changes in it and claims the Cottagers have a serious chance of inflicting more Anfield misery on the hosts.
The former Liverpool defender added: ‘He (Parker) will be pleased when he sees the Liverpool back four because that really is a makeshift or young back four.
Klopp confirmed Roberto Firmino (left) and Ozan Kabak (right) now have ‘small injuries’
‘It will certainly give them a boost but they’ll know it’s not easy coming to Anfield even with results of late.
‘It is different, they’ll see teams like Brighton and Burnley come here so why cant they come here and get a result. They went across the park to Everton and got a result. Fulham will be on the front foot and I think they will fancy themselves.
‘That’s why I talk about today, you look at some of their away games to come and managers say “this game wont decide our season” but you feel they will have to do something in these big away games and it could start today.’
Carragher also believes Scott Parker’s Fulham can beat Liverpool at Anfield this weekend
Liverpool go into the Anfield clash in seventh place – four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, though Merseyside rivals Everton are a point behind the west Londoners with a game in hand.
Both Chelsea and Everton play each other on Monday evening adding further importance to Liverpool’s match with Fulham.
The Reds, meanwhile, have a 2-0 first-leg lead over German side RB Leipzig ahead of their Champions League return fixture next week.
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