Liverpool Boss Jurgen Klopp Blast Europa League Theory

John Aldridge questions the idea that the Europa League does not matter for Liverpool

Oh it does. The Europa League does matter. It doesn’t really get interesting until the quarter-finals or maybe the last 16, but the fact the final is in Dublin is a massive incentive.

It would be the final of all finals if Liverpool went there and won it in Dublin, the amount of support we have over in Ireland. Liverpool are just massive over there and fans from here would even be going across the Irish sea in their numbers using canoes and all sorts.

It’s the nearest city to us abroad and a Europa League final is there – it is just insane. It would be tremendous to lift that trophy, let’s hope we can get there.
Look at West Ham last season and how they celebrated the Europa Conference League last season.

It is what it is, of course we all want to be in the Champions League but look, it’s a trophy. I remember it in 2001 – Dortmund – when we won against Alaves – amazing game and amazing achievement. Let’s get to the quarter-finals and then it’ll get a whole lot more interesting.

In the meantime that means doing the business in the group stage, beginning with a win on Thursday. I’m looking forward to facing new opposition in LASK.

Those six matches will give Jurgen Klopp a chance to rotate, manage his key players and hand some important minutes to the others who deserve a stage to perform.
It’s not up for me to say who, only the manager knows who needs time, but personally I’d be excited to see young Stefan Bajcetic coming back from injury, Quansah did well at the weekend – Elliott too – and it is perfect for Doak. I’d like to see Ben Doak play.

Also the strikers need to carry on scoring goals. It’s a matter of how strong he goes, but the likes of Jota, Gakpo, Nunez, they need to score goals.

I think he’s got to use a mix of youth and experience. You’d imagine Kelleher would start in goal for all of them, then for this one in defence Konate needs games, Van Dijk might play as he’s coming back, right back Joe Gomez – no problem – then Tsimikas on the other side.

In midfield Curtis Jones needs games, Bajcetic maybe. Also Gravenberch and Endo, get the new signings involved, so any three of those to start.

Finally my forward line would be young Doak, Jota and either one of Gakpo or Nunez. Rest Salah and Diaz, that’s still a strong enough team, and takes us nicely into the weekend’s game back at Anfield against West Ham.