Jürgen Klopp has a strong ally in his decision to give his senior players a week off during the scheduled winter break rather than play in the fourth round replay against Shrewsbury.
Klopp has received some criticism in some quarters, but Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers spoke strongly in favour of the German.
The Echo reported the Northern Irishman as saying:
“He's well within his rights to do that. That's why you have your first-team squad, you have reserve players and why you have youth players.
"I said a number of weeks ago that the load that is put on players and the pressure that some players have over the December, Christmas period, this week was designed (to help that).
“It's not really you would say a break, but it's something at least for the players to have and to go away and recover a little bit.
"To then organise the replays within that was ridiculous.
Rodgers believes managers should have every right to pick their team because player welfare should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
“Jurgen is within his rights to pick whatever team he wants to pick.
"If he's going to decide to rest all his players for the benefit of the club, because that's who he is employed by, then that's what he does and he has every right to do that."
The Reds are firm favourites for the title with the best au sports betting sites but their hopes of a treble have been seriously dented by Klopp's decision to play the u23s for the replay against Shrewsbury Town.
Importantly, Gini Wijnaldum is also right behind his manager’s actions and spoke about how important this break is for a player.
'Since I've been in the Premier League I've played the season without a winter break but I also know, before I came to the Premier League, how good it is for a player to have some rest.
'After the rest you can go again. Your body is more rested than if you keep on going, so that's a good thing.
“As a player you want to be involved in every game there is but you also have to deal with your body and sometimes your body just says that it is not the right choice to do.
'You just have to see how the situation is but if the manager decides that the younger players are going to play the game then we should accept it.'
Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand understood the reasoning, but believed that Klopp should be on the touchline for the game, which according to some online sports betting is now virtually an even contest following Klopp's decision to field the kids.
"When you are a successful team, you are fighting on all fronts and Liverpool are doing that. I totally understand you have to shuffle your pack.
“He wants to make sure his squad remains fresh and if he thinks he can get through to the next round with a younger team, then so be it.
“It's a great experience for those players.
“The only issue I have and he's taking a liberty in some ways, is if he's not actually going to be in the dugout. That's where I draw the line. I think the manager should be in the dugout for every game.
'It doesn't matter whether he's putting out a depleted squad or not."
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