Jurgen Klopp has said that he was planning substitute Jordan Henderson before the captain was sent off for two bookable offences against Watford in the Reds 3-0 victory on Saturday afternoon.
The Liverpool captain saw red for a foul on Hornets midfielder Etienne Capoue on 82 minutes after picking up his first yellow on the hour mark against Isaac Success on the hour mark.
The red card means that Henderson will miss the Merseyside Derby next Sunday. The Reds are strong favourites to win the game with most top online betting sites, but will have to do it without their captain.
However Klopp held no ill- will against the skipper for his moment of poor discipline, but the manager also did not have a issue with the second yellow card being issued.
Sky Sports reported Klopp as saying: "We cannot change it anymore and he is a fantastic boy, an outstanding, good person with a big heart and sometimes you don't do the right things in the right moments.
"He obviously didn't have as much oxygen anymore and it was only a little touch, but I would have given the second yellow as well.
"The only problem was, we already wanted to change him. Fabinho was ready and we couldn't make the change because it went differently, but it is all good."
Despite playing the last ten minutes with a man less, Liverpool actually extended their margin of victory courtesy of a Roberto Firmino goal, after previous strikes by Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Klopp was thrilled with the performance, especially on the back of a international break.
"The performance was really good and result was perfect.
"Coming back after an international break and playing a team who only had three or four players away I think, meaning they could train properly - we could only train Wednesday and Thursday - and to play against such an organised team is difficult.
"They stuck to what they wanted to do - deep defending, counter-attacking, long balls, going for second balls - which is difficult to defend.
"You have to stay in the game and stay concentrated, focused and do what you did again but better and that's what we did.
"It is one of the biggest wins in the season so far because the way of Watford is really special."
Klopp also confirmed that defender Joe Gomez would be fit to play against Paris St Germain on Wednesday evening after missing the Hornets clash with an ankle knock suffered in training on Friday.
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.