Thursday 18 June 2020 08:58, UK
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is happy to have to make difficult choices on team selection - and views them as a key indicator of his squad's strength.
The German made seven changes for Tuesday's comfortable 3-0 EFL Cup win over Derby County with Daniel Sturridge left out of the squad completely and Emre Can returning from an ankle injury.
Marko Grujic and goalkeeper Loris Karius also their first starts with fit-again Danny Ings and 18-year-old debutant Ovie Ejaria coming off the bench
Klopp has some interesting selection dilemmas ahead, starting in goal where Karius - a £4.7m summer signing from Mainz - is now in a position to challenge Simon Mignolet for the No 1 spot, although he did not get much chance to showcase his talents in the one-sided encounter at the iPro Stadium.
Can's comeback increases the competition in midfield, with Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum also left out of the squad to face Derby. Sadio Mane (also rested) is certain to get a recall to the forward line for Saturday's visit of Hull, which means Sturridge could find himself on the bench.
"The more players I have, the more difficult choices there are for me but the better it is for LFC," Klopp said.
"Can's fitness is not a problem. He has a strong mentality and fight but it is about rhythm - we can't go into a shop and buy rhythm.
"I don't rush it and Emre is cool about it."
Klopp also stressed Ings still has a part to play somewhere down the line as he eases his way back into competitive football after a knee ligament injury curtailed last season.
"It was a difficult time [for him], I know this but, like all the others, he's on a really good way and everybody can see this," the Reds boss added.
"We will see what will happen, but he's still an important player for us and it's all good."
Victory over Derby, and passage into the last 16, meant Liverpool have now won five of their seven matches this season, with the 2-0 defeat at Burnley the only black mark against their record.
They have scored 19 goals so far - compared to five over the first seven matches last season - from 10 different players, and appear to be gathering momentum with three successive wins and a five-game unbeaten run.
After their win over Derby, Klopp is targeting another Wembley appearance after losing on penalties to Manchester City in last season's final.
"This is a very important tournament for us, for the players, and we have to show it from the first second," he said. "Let's go for it."
Liverpool face Hull at home in their next Premier League fixture, followed by a trip to Swansea before taking on rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
And Klopp is determined not to get carried away with their recent success saying: "The pleasing thing is that I don't feel anything,"
"It's not that we are surprised and think, 'Okay, let's take a week's break and celebrate it'.
"We had the games, we played them, we are professionals."