Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah was substituted out of fear of an injury as Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea.
The Reds went behind to a Mason Mount strike in the first half and were unable to respond as they went past the 10-hour mark without registering a goal in open play at Anfield.
With 24 goals in all competitions this season, Salah, who remains the Premier League's leading marksman with 17, was likely to be the main threat to Thomas Tuchel's side, but the Egyptian was replaced after 62 minutes for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Klopp said he was worried that his forward would become the latest to suffer an injury as the champions slipped to a fifth successive home defeat for the first time in their history.
"When the boy looks disappointed [to be subbed] that is not a problem," Klopp said.
"The reason for the sub was - and I could have changed others as well, that is true - but he looked in that moment like he was feeling the intensity really.
"I didn't want to risk him. That is all. That is the situation.
"It is really rare, I have known Mo long enough now and he usually looks surprisingly fresh until the end and I thought that was a sign [to bring him off].
"In our situation I didn't want to risk it and that is it.
"The last two or three years have nothing to do with that but it's just you have these moments and if you can react you react. That is all."
