Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has backed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United team selection against Leicester City despite the criticism being aimed at the Norwegian.
Solskjaer made 10 changes for the visit of Foxes and saw his heavily rotated side lose 2-1 at Old Trafford to hand the Premier League title to Manchester City.
That result was also a bitter blow to Liverpool’s hopes of a top-four finish this season, with Brendan Rodgers’ side moving back up to third and leaving Klopp’s men seven points adrift of the Champions League places.
Solskjaer felt his hands were tied with selection as a result of the schedule handed to his side by the Premier League.
As a result, Solskjaer handed a first league start to 18-year-old Amad and a debut to 19-year-old Anthony Elanga as part of a side that was almost entirely rotated from the team that won 3-1 at Aston Villa. Only Mason Greenwood kept his place.
But Klopp has sympathy with his opposite number and described the schedule given to United this week as a “crime”. Solskjaer was criticised in some quarters last night for picking a team that made Leicester City heavy favourites to win at Old Trafford, but that wasn’t a narrative to which Klopp subscribes.
“It was the line-up I expected. He has to make these changes. I said it 500 times – to play Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday is a crime,” he said.
“It’s not Solskjaer and the players’ fault. Would I have done the same? Yes. You have to. If we don’t go to the Champions League it is not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fault.
