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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp gives Liverpool team news hint ahead of Aston Villa

Jurgen Klopp has hinted he will rotate his Liverpool side for the Premier League visit of Aston Villa.

The Reds can go fourth - at least temporarily - by sealing a fourth successive top-flight win in Saturday afternoon's encounter.

The match is the third of six in 22 days during a busy April for Klopp's side, who were beaten 3-1 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Real Madrid on Tuesday.

And the Reds boss admits a number of his players are still feeling the effects of the game in the Spanish capital.

Asked if there would be any fresh absentees this weekend, Klopp said on Friday: "To be 100% honest, we don't know yet. We played on Tuesday, flew back on Wednesday, trained on yesterday. Some players still felt the game.

"Nobody is injured from the game, but we have to see what we make with the information we are given today.

"We will see tomorrow If we have to change some things."

Thiago Alcantara, Xherdan Shaqiri and Roberto Firmino all came off the bench in Spain, while Curtis Jones, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also pressing for a starting role.

With the second leg against Real to come next Wednesday, Liverpool face a crucial double-header at Anfield - where they haven't won in almost four months - as they attempt to maintain interest in the Champions League.

"There is no opportunity without pressure," said the Reds boss. "We are fighting for the Champions League, whether that's winning it this year or qualifying for it next year.

"It's an opportunity but it's also pressure, and we have to get ready for that 100%.

"A week ago we spoke about a wonderful game against Arsenal, and it was a wonderful game, a great game of football.

"A few days later we played pretty much the opposite at Real Madrid. But that game should have no influence on the Aston Villa game tomorrow."

Liverpool suffered their worst league defeat since 1963 when they were thumped 7-2 at Villa Park in October, a result for which Klopp admits his team must atone.

"Of course, we have to put things right," he said. "That is clear. But we had to put things right a few days after the game and in the weeks after it.

"Things like this shouldn't happen but it happened to us. It was a really strange game. I have the game in my mind and which way I will use it I am not sure yet, but we have to put things right for sure."

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