Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Liverpool will bring Mohamed Salah off the bench at Crystal Palace.
There was some surprise among fans when the forward was named among the substitutes despite scoring in four consecutive games for the Reds.
Yet Klopp has been vocal on protecting players during a hectic Premier League season and he has stayed true to his word.
Klopp says the amount of games Salah has played recently, having started four games in under two weeks, was the deciding factor in why he is on the bench at Selhurst Park.
Yet the Reds boss backed his star attacker to make the difference off the subs bench if he is needed.
Klopp says he is anticipating a tough game against a Palace side that have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to this season.
Pointing to their acquisition of Eberechi Eze, Klopp said Palace are a strong Premier League side that are effective on the counter-attack – just like Wednesday’s opponents Tottenham Hotspur.
“Both teams are in the same situation, playing Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday so it will be a tough ask,” Klopp told BT Sport before the match.
“Palace are playing a similar system to Tottenham, they like to counter-attack so we have to go again.
“Mo Salah is on the bench, they have all played a lot of games. He can come on and make a difference. We need all the boys.
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“Bringing in Eze in was smart business for Palace, Schlupp has found his position, Zaha is playing higher – it is a proper Premier League team.”
Meanwhile, Palace boss Roy Hodgson bemoaned the fact that former Reds striker Christian Benteke is unavailable to feature against his former club due to a red card in midweek.
“We are very positive, it’s always a pleasure to welcome a team like Liverpool to Selhurst Park. Our mood is good after three good performances,” he said.
“Christian Benteke would have been a handful for Liverpool but we have been robbed of that. Jordan Ayew has always done well for us.
“Nathaniel Clyne has recovered fantastically from a serious injury and he’s delighted to play against his former club.
“You don’t become champions of England and Europe without the ability they have got – they find a way of restarting from zero every time.”
