Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has explained why Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson were missing from the Reds' team for their FA Cup meeting with Nottingham Forest.
Both men were involved in Liverpool's last Premier League game. Robertson played the full 90 minutes of the 2-0 victory at Arsenal on Wednesday night, while Salah - who had been an injury doubt before the trip to London - played the final half hour at the Emirates Stadium.
Neither were involved at the City Ground, though, with Klopp explaining illness and injury were to blame. The news follows the announcement that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be out for a number of weeks, and the impending international break has come at a good time for the Reds boss and his squad.
"They are in the quarter-final for a reason," Klopp said of Liverpool's opponents. "Home games are useful for them. I think we know what to expect, hope we are ready for it.
"Robbo is ill, it’s finally got him. Mo felt an injury again. Sadio [Mane], they have some massive games coming up. Hopefully it works out," the former Borussia Dortmund manager added.
Klopp's comments about Mane were in relation to the forward's upcoming exertions with Senegal. The Africa Cup of Nations winners go head-to-head with Salah's Egypt side in a home-and-away battle, with the victor sealing their place at the World Cup in Qatar.
With Salah and Mane absent from the front three, Liverpool handed a start to Harvey Elliott in an advanced role. The 18-year-old scored his first Reds goal in the fourth round victory over Cardiff City, but the start in Nottingham was only his second since recovering from an ankle injury which kept him out for several months.
Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino joined the youngster in what was still a strong front three. Elsewhere, Joe Gomez deputised for Alexander-Arnold at right-back and there was a start for Kostas Tsimikas on the opposite flank.
"Trent is out with a hamstring, so will be out for England too," Klopp had earlier said regarding the right-back. "Not good news, we will see how long it takes."
After the international break, Liverpool will be back in action on April 2 with a home game against Watford. They will return to Champions League action a few days later, travelling to Portugal for the first leg of their meeting with Benfica, before taking on Manchester City in the league in what could end up being a title decider.
