Nathaniel Clyne joined Bournemouth on loan from Liverpool in the January transfer window.
England international right-back Clyne moved to Bournemouth on loan from Liverpool earlier in the January transfer window for the rest of the season.
The Reds subsequently suffered injury problems, with Trent Alexander-Arnold still recovering from a knee ligament injury, and James Milner suspended for the match against Leicester City and having to be replaced at right-back by midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Clyne may not be the player he once was, but the 27-year-old former Crystal Palace and Southampton defender is certainly better at right-back than Milner or Henderson.
Liverpool manager Klopp, though, has defended his decision to send the right-back out on loan to Premier League rivals Bournemouth, saying that no one could have predicted the injury and suspension to his players that would follow.
Klopp told The Guardian about Clyne: “I can imagine people think that. I don’t think about it. In the moment we did it there were different reasons. Then an hour later people could say: ‘Why did you do that?’
“Milly got suspended and Trent injured – or the other way around. Is that perfect? I don’t think so. You make the decision in the moment you have to and then people judge it later. Hendo did well.
“We all know how good Clyney is, but would he have had more offensive influence in the game? I don’t know. Defensively I did not see a mistake from Hendo.”
Title challenge
Liverpool are at the top of the Premier League table at the moment with 61 points from 24 matches, two points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have played 23 games.
The Reds will return to action on Monday evening when they take on West Ham United away from home at the London Stadium in the Premier League.
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