Jurgen Klopp sends a subtle message with Liverpool’s nine-man bench

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been outspoken about Premier League rules on substitutes this season.

The English top flight is the only major league that chooses not to allow teams to make five substitutions and clubs again voted against the proposal at the last Premier League meeting this week.

10 clubs were in favor of making the change with 10 voters to maintain the limit of three substitutes per game despite the increase in injuries amid the hectic schedule.

But, in a minor commitment, clubs were allowed to name nine substitutes per game entering this weekend’s games.

However, the new rules did little to solve Klopp’s problems and with several players already ruled out with injuries.

Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Xherdan Shaqiri and Diogo Jota missed the trip to Crystal Palace.

And, instead of appointing a young man to fill his bench, Klopp sent a subtle message about the failure with the nine-man bench by using two spots for goalkeepers.

Adrian and Caoimhin Kelleher were named alongside Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, Divock Origi, Rhys Williams, Nathaniel Phillips and Neco Williams.

Youngsters recently involved in first-team action like Leighton Clarkson or Billy Koumetio could have turned up.

But it seemed like Klopp was willing to make a subtle point by basically wasting one of the two additional spots on a third goalkeeper who will likely never be used.

Speaking about the new rules before the game, the Franco-German said: “They are two different decisions. I am not sure it is a compromise.

“I can’t do you a favor to make headlines, everyone knows what I think about it.

“You have to ask other people. There were 10 clubs that voted against. It was not about advantages, just the welfare of the players. Only they voted against in Europe, in the world.

“There must be a reason for this. All clubs want to stay in the league, some win the league, but this is practically the only league, because the Championship decided differently. It is not for me to give an answer.”