I don’t have players to rotate, says Klopp – with Thiago set to be out until new year

Jurgen Klopp says he doesn’t have enough players to rotate his Liverpool squad against Ajax, with Thiago Alcantara set to be out until 2021.

Utility man James Milner was injured in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brighton, with Klopp blaming his side’s schedule for the player’s hamstring injury.

Klopp added that former Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago will be out until the new year with his knee injury.

“I don’t have enough players to prioritise,” Klopp said.

“It’s not about the competition; it’s about the players. On Saturday, the fittest players played.

“It’s not a perfect situation but obviously not enough people want to offer us any kind of help [with the fixture scheduling], not only for us but for [all] football people. We just have to deal with it.”

Thiago has not played since being injured in a challenge by Richarlison in a 2-2 draw at Everton on 17 October.

Captain Jordan Henderson is fit but Klopp confirmed that along with Thiago, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Milner, Xherdan Shaqiri, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita remain out of action.

“Thiago, we have to maybe clarify it a little bit,” said Klopp.

“On that day when Thiago got injured in that challenge in the Everton game, there was another bad injury [to Virgil van Dijk, who suffered cruciate knee ligament damage].

“After the scans, it was like one was really bad news, and the other one was really good news because nothing was broken, nothing was ruptured and stuff like this.

“But, as we realise now, it was still a massive impact on the knee. I can’t say exactly when he will be fine, but it will take a few weeks.”

Liverpool will qualify from Group D if they avoid defeat by Ajax and will be group winners if they win and Atalanta fail to beat Midtjylland.