Jurgen Klopp has explained the decision not to start Mohamed Salah in their Premier League match against Leicester City.
The Reds were back in league action this evening as they took on the Foxes at Anfield - but Salah was not in the starting line-up.
Salah only returned to Merseyside on Tuesday after featuring in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations for Egypt.
Sadio Mane was also in action in Sunday’s final, but Senegal’s victory led to him being given more time to enjoy the celebrations.
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Klopp opted not to start Salah against Leicester, instead handing new signing Luis Diaz a Premier League debut.
Speaking ahead of the game, Klopp explained the decision not to start Salah and the Egyptian’s reaction to being benched.
“It was not his choice, it was my decision,” Klopp told BT Sport. “But he took it completely normally and was fine, he understood 100 per cent.
“Mo is not here as a passenger or sitting outside and being a tourist, he’s here to contribute and he will come on, definitely.
“But coming back from a massive tournament, four times 120 minutes - come on, at one point we have to think a little bit.
“As much as I like the fact that he’s back, we have to be cautious there.
“Sadio (Mane) came back last night and is still in bed, it’s just an intense time for the boys and we should not underestimate that. So that’s the reason for that.”
Liverpool went on to record a comfortable 2-0 victory against Leicester, with Salah coming on and looking sharp in the second half.
