Jurgen Klopp explains leaving Mo Salah for Liverpool trip to Aston Villa

Salah, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are all on the Villa Park bench, while Andy Robertson is not included in the squad at all.

It’s still a strong Reds side taking on the rogues, with a midfield three of Naby Keita, Fabinho and Curtis Jones behind a front three of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane.

Liverpool still have the Champions League and FA Cup finals ahead of them while their dreams of a Premier League title are not yet over. Klopp says he has no choice but to shuffle his pack as the season draws to a close.

Especially with the quality of players he can bring in, he has no qualms about resting star players like Salah if need be.

“Yes, for us it’s the only way,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “We can’t keep pushing the players through.

“We have the quality and that’s why we use it.”

Salah has made 47 appearances this season, scoring 30 goals in all competitions.

He will no doubt be in the starting XI when Liverpool meet Chelsea at Wembley and Real Madrid in Paris, while the Reds have two more Premier League games ahead of them in Southampton and against Wolves at Anfield after Tuesday night.

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