Klopp rules out major changes for Maribor clash

Joe Williams

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Loris Karius as a starter in Slovenia – but has vowed to only make one or two changes to Liverpool’s side to face Maribor.

Klopp’s side have been held to two draws in their opening Champions League fixtures, and will travel to the Stadion Ljudski vrt seeking a morale-boosting win.

Facing the media on Monday evening, Klopp confirmed the German would return to goal with Simon Mignolet making way.

“Loris will start. If nothing happens from here on the way to Maribor, then Loris will start,” he said.

The Reds boss, however, insisted he would resist the urge to gamble on sweeping changes to his side.

“No chance. Everybody thinks ahead of a game like this, ‘this is the place where you can rotate’. It’s the last place I would do things like this,” he added.

“We’ll make one or two changes, we will see, but the first job is not to think the same thing that obviously a lot of you think already: [don’t] underestimate the opponent.

“It’s so important, they’ve had nine Champions League games so far—they chose the hard way! That’s quality, that’s mentality.

“I heard the stadium is not usually sold out, Champions League nights will be sold out, and will be a great atmosphere.”

With Karius returning in goals, the likes of Andrew Robertson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Daniel Sturridge are also hoping for a chance to shine.

However, with the Reds sitting second in Group E, two points behind leaders Spartak Moscow, Klopp is probably wise to resist the urge to make widepsread changes, as the Reds look to claim their first win of the Champions League campaign.