Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp explains the reason behind him not bringing his star forward Jayden Danns to play against Everton
After Liverpool’s 2-0 loss against Everton, many supporters were shocked that Jayden Danns did not play, but Jurgen Klopp has explained why.
The Reds were barren up forward again on Wednesday night, with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez particularly ineffective in converting huge chances.
Throughout the 90-plus minutes at Goodison Park, one of Liverpool’s most natural finishers – a teenager who has been in phenomenal form all season, left on the sidelines.
The 18-year-old star spent the night observing, while Salah, Nunez, and Luis Diaz played the entire game, much to the dismay of fans. But in his post-match press conference, Klopp explained his decision not to use Danns:
“I know we had Dannsy on the bench, I know, but in that physical game, I didn’t want to risk him. And he played on Monday, obviously we didn’t know that we’d have to bring him in.”
“The two situations, with Diogo we only learned two days ago and Cody actually only really today. So now that’s not a game for an 18-year-old boy. Tarkowski and Branthwaite kill you in these situations and that doesn’t help.”
While Diogo Jota sustained a knock in Sunday’s 3-1 victory against Fulham, scans on his hip didn’t give results until the following day. Cody Gakpo departed the squad at the last minute to accompany his partner during labour.
Since joining the senior team, the remarkable teenager has already scored 2 goals in just 5 appearances he made for Liverpool.
While Klopp’s concern was right that Danns has just played for 70 minutes on Monday but the claim that Everton’s player could “kill” him might be a little too far-fetched given the laughable performances by Salah and Nunez.
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Maybe the outcome would’ve been better if so many key players didn’t bail on the team and Danns should have played given his form in the last few games he appeared.