04 April 2023 , 19:42
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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has explained that the amount of changes Jurgen Klopp made for the Reds' trip to Chelsea on Tuesday night is a cause for concern.
Klopp made a number of big calls for the huge clash at Stamford Bridge, but Carragher also added that it was the high-profile players being dropped that really raised eyebrows. Liverpool's form has been particularly patchy this season, coming into the game against the Blues having recorded back-to-back defeats by Bournemouth and Manchester City respectively.
However, the game prior to the 1-0 loss on the south coast was a remarkable 7-0 win over fierce rivals Manchester United that will live long in the memory of all who witnessed. The run paints a picture of Liverpool's inconsistencies, but Carragher is still unsure about the six changes Klopp made for the visit to Chelsea.
Speaking ahead of kick-off, Carragher told Sky Sports: "No it’s more than you do expect and what Jurgen Klopp’s done since he came in is there’s certain players who just play every game, you know, and those players, some of them aren’t playing tonight.
"You look at the back four, Virgil van Dijk, that’s down to illness we’re told but Trent Alexander-Arnold you’re always expecting to be on that team sheet. Mo Salah being another one, Andy Robertson being another one.
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"He hasn't just changed the team, he’s changed mainstays really who are there week-in week-out - not just this season but for years gone by."
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Jurgen Klopp's team selection for Liverpool's trip to Chelsea raised eyebrowsCarragher went on to ponder the factors behind Klopp's calls, suggesting Saturday's 4-1 hammering at the hands of City could have played a part, as could the upcoming home clash against league-leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
"Is that to do with the performance against Manchester City? Is it to do with the fact that Liverpool have three tough games in a week? It’s a bit of both.
"There’s no doubt that what happened at the Etihad on Saturday is certainly in the back of his mind and he had to make changes on the back of that performance."
Whether the likes of Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson return for the meeting with the Gunners remains to be seen, but it would be a bold call from Klopp to keep them out of the starting eleven for the second game running.
With that being said, if this new-look Liverpool shines at Stamford Bridge, Klopp may opt to stick with his guns and try this experiment once again at the weekend.