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Klopp defends rotation policy: 'We cannot ignore the number of games'

PAUL ELLIS / AFP / Getty

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp vowed to continue rotating his players during a hectic December - even if he loses some popularity along the way.

Klopp's decision to rest in-form players Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho for much of last weekend's Merseyside derby prompted a referendum on the German's rotation policy. The fact Mohamed Salah came off in the 67th minute of the disappointing 1-1 draw only added to the criticism.

But the German, who also left Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum out of the derby, said he had no choice.

"I took Mo Salah off because he felt the hamstring a little bit. Then everyone said, 'How can you take him off?' I do not go out and say, 'Because he is close to being injured.' He is not injured at the moment, thank God. Hopefully we took him off early enough," Klopp told reporters, including the Guardian's Andy Hunter.

Salah could be rested for Wednesday's match against West Brom as a precaution.

"Seven games in 21 days before Everton and now six games in 18 days. It is exactly the same. We need the best quality we can have before each game. We cannot ignore the number of games," Klopp added.

Although the former Borussia Dortmund boss may be exaggerating that he has "500,000 pieces of information" to consider every week, he said he left out Firmino and Coutinho after listening to the club's medical and sports science staff. Coutinho has already missed several games this season due to injury.

"I have said in the future of football there will be more rotation because no one will take away the number of games," Klopp said. "It is quicker, more intense, with more sprints, more high runs, less breaks, and so many things. It is going in one direction and you have to react."

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