LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted a looming FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City will have no impact on his team selection for Wednesday’s Champions League tie at home to Benfica.
Last weekend the Reds, still in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies in the one season, drew 2-2 with City to remain just a point behind the Premier League leaders.
They will face City again in the last four of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday but before then the six-time kings of Europe play Benfica in the second leg of a Champions League quarter-final at Anfield.
Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out to win the English League Cup final at Wembley in February, have a healthy 3-1 lead following the first leg in Portugal, which has led to speculation Klopp could rest key players with an eye to the FA Cup tie.
But the German boss, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, insisted: “The next game has no influence on the line-up for tomorrow but the last game has.
“So we have to see. It is a super intense schedule.”
Klopp added: “There is nobody injured, as far as I know, but we have to be careful with who is fresh enough for this game and stuff like this.”
As for Liverpool’s ongoing bid for the quadruple, Klopp said: “We are part of four competitions, and thankfully we are good enough this year not to go out early.
“We just try to squeeze everything out of every competition. Some are possible, we will see.”
Liverpool raced into an early 2-0 lead in Lisbon last week before Darwin Nunez pulled a goal back for Benfica.
And it was only when Luis Diaz scored three minutes from time that Liverpool restored their two-goal lead.
“Knowing more about the way they played, they try to isolate Darwin and Ibou (Konate) one-on-one a little bit,” said Klopp.
“But they play football, and if you don’t defend (Julian) Weigl then you have a problem as well because he connects the people. They have speed with Rafa (da Silva), things like this.”
He added: “I don’t know (how they will play) but I know what I would do. I would go for it, full throttle. I would try to put us under pressure, score early, and if not try to score a bit later. That’s what we expect.
“But now, bad news for Benfica, it’s Anfield: they don’t only play against us, they play against the whole crowd.”
Klopp also suggested television broadcasters were almost as much a threat to Liverpool as their opponents in a renewed attack on the scheduling of the Merseysiders’ matches.
If Liverpool defeat Benfica, they will face either Bayern Munich or Villarreal in the last four, with Klopp angry that after that potential midweek semifinal Liverpool would have to travel to Newcastle for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off.
“The schedule, and how people use the fame in the moment — Liverpool is hot and everyone wants to see them — they couldn’t care less,” said Klopp.
“It’s just not OK.
“If we play a Champions League semifinal, find me another league in the world and another broadcaster in the world who would put that team in a 12.30 p.m. (1130 GMT)?“
Klopp says Liverpool’s FA Cup semifinal has no bearing on Benfica line-up
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Klopp says Liverpool’s FA Cup semifinal has no bearing on Benfica line-up
- Last weekend the Reds, still in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies in the one season, drew 2-2 with City to remain just a point behind the Premier League leaders.
- The German boss, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, insisted: "The next game has no influence on the line-up for tomorrow but the last game has
Lens have transformed from surprise package to genuine title threat to PSG in Ligue 1
- Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger
- PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday
PARIS: With nine rounds remaining in Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain still have not managed to shake off Lens in the title race.
Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger and, with PSG not playing this weekend, coach Pierre Sage’s side can move two points ahead at the top with a win at mid-table Lorient on Saturday.
PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday in order to give PSG better preparation for the Champions League second leg against Chelsea next week.
It seems PSG hardly need it, leading 5-2 from the last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
The decision hardly pleased Nantes fans, who are facing yet another relegation scrap with a third coach this season. Ahmed Kantari was sacked this week and replaced by Vahid Halilhodzic.
Kantari was in charge for just three months. He was hired in mid-December after Nantes fired Luís Castro, who lasted 15 games.
Key matchups
After scraping a narrow win at Toulouse last weekend, Marseille moved back into third place on goal difference from Lyon.
But Marseille’s fans are still angry at facing another trophyless season and coach Habib Beye’s players need a strong performance at home against Auxerre on Friday to appease them.
Monaco are at home to Brest on Saturday and the players are on a roll under attack-minded Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli. Monaco have won their past four league games, including impressive away wins against PSG and Lens.
Lyon look to snap a four-game winless streak when they travel to lowly Le Havre and fifth-placed Rennes seek a fifth straight win when they host Lille, with both of those games on Sunday.
Players to watch
Monaco’s turnaround in fortunes have coincided with American forward Folarin Balogun finding form. He looked at his best last Friday against PSG, where his movement and hold-up play stood out, and he has 13 goals overall this season.
Lens winger Florian Thauvin is in fine form after scoring in Ligue 1 and the French Cup last week.
Rémi Himbert has caught the eye on the left side of Lyon’s attack and the 18-year-old forward’s form has earned him a first professional contract until 2028.
Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul looks to add to his 13 league goals this season.
Out of action
Lyon’s goalscoring midfielder Pavel Šulc remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Marseille central defender Nayef Aguerd requires an operation to treat pubalgia — a chronic groin injury problem — which has been troubling the Morocco international for months.
Nice midfielder Everton is expected to miss the rest of the season. The 18-year-old broke into the team this year but suffered a serious ankle injury in training this week.
Off the field
PSG’s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was grounded in Qatar this week amid the intensifying Iran war.
Flights in and out of the Middle East have been impacted by the Iran war, started by the US and Israel on Feb. 28.
PSG have been bankrolled by Qatari backer QSI since the club’s takeover 15 years ago.
