Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp rolled the dice on Sunday – and lost.
Klopp rested Joel Matip for last night’s FA Cup defeat away to Manchester United and played Rhys Williams alongside Fabinho instead.
According to The Athletic, the Liverpool manager has one eye on the midweek trip to Tottenham in the Premier League and with Matip’s history of yoyo-ing in and out of the treatment room in recent weeks, decided against risking him at Old Trafford.
Problem is, Klopp’s side lost 3-2 and Williams, the 19-year-old rookie who played instead of the Cameroon international, directly cost the visitors one goal.
In terms of gambling, that one definitely backfired for the German coach and if the Premier League champions lose away to Spurs, despite having Matip in central defence, then fans will really be upset.
Well, quite a few already are and here’s how they reacted to Klopp’s decision to keep the former Schalke powerhouse in reserve on Sunday:
With the Red Devils hosting bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United on Wednesday, fourth-placed Liverpool could and probably will be a massive nine points behind the leaders by the time they face the North Londoners.
And defeat might well put paid to their chances of retaining their title.
It’s a massive few days in the context of their season.
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