Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp blamed a sudden spate of injuries to star players after a much-changed side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Wolves.
On Monday night, Klopp made nine changes made to the side that lost 2-1 to Manchester City in the Premier League on Friday, things got worse for the German as centreback Dejan Lovren suffered a hamstring injury in the sixth minute.
That meant 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever made his first-team debut off the bench before Wolves hit the lead just before halftime thanks to Raul Jimenez’s 38th-minute opener.
Divock Origi tied up the scores in the 51st.
But Ruben Neves’ long-range effort was enough to beat the Reds, who went close to an equaliser late on when Xherdan Shaqiri hit the post with a freekick.
Dejan Lovre. Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble
And Klopp says of his team selection: "It was for different reasons.
“After the City game we immediately had a few players who were ill, who showed a sore throat and all you can have in this period of the year.
“A few of them were not even in after the City game, so there was no chance.
"Pretty much all the players who were not here today had little problems, apart from Alisson.
HURTING: Jurgen Klopp. Photo: PETER POWELL/EPA
“I am not sure what you all would have said if immediately from the beginning our centre-half situation was Fabinho and Ki-Jana; then probably a few very smart people would tell me that I don’t respect the competition or whatever.”