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| Klopp seemed to enjoy his first win in the Europa League as Liverpool boss |
JURGEN KLOPP has dismissed suggestions the Europa League is an unwanted distraction, insisting it will not be used as an excuse for underperformance in the Premier League.
The Liverpool manager, whose side look on target for qualification for the knockout stages following their 1-0 win in Kazan on Thursday, have to regroup quickly for the visit of Crystal Palace tomorrow.
But Klopp said there would be no problem with the quick turnaround, maintaining the players had better get used to the rigours of battle on two fronts if they aspire to Champions League football.
"If you play Champions League you are playing Wednesday and Saturday. Where is the difference with Thursday and Sunday? Is the only benefit that you like the other tournament more?" he mused.
"This tournament is not a problem. It is a great tournament."
Klopp, who added his voice to many continental managers operating in England to have extolled the benefits of a winter break, is evidently determined to go deep into the Europa League in his first season in charge.
His team in Russia this week may have been missing four of the players who started at Stamford Bridge last weekend but it remained notably strong. And Klopp insisted Liverpool fans would not see him field under-strength sides as the competition progresses.
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"What would you have said if we had come here with a youth team? If you play Champions League, you play Wednesday-Saturday. Nobody says, 'Go to Real Madrid with 17-year-old guys!' - that is not fair for them.
"They get experience but not the experience they should make. We have to play. We cannot rest. That is our situation."
Klopp's reference to taking a reserve team to Real Madrid was almost certainly not intended as pointed reference to the methods of the previous regime.
But it will strike a chord with those who remain critical of Brendon Rodgers' decision to field a second-string side at the Bernabeu in a Champions League group game in November 2012 when qualification was still in the balance.
Asked how he can turn around a team that arrives back from Russia at 4am on Friday morning to be fit for 4pm on Sunday, Klopp said: "I don't need my team at 4am on Friday morning!
"We played without Adam [Lallana], who is in unbelievable shape in this moment. We played without Phil [Coutinho] who had such a brilliant game at Chelsea. And we did it without Martin Skrtel, who is in great shape."
All three, along with midfield linchpin Lucas, are expected to return to the side to face Palace as Klopp seeks to extend his unbeaten run to seven matches since taking over in all competitions.
Palace are once again hurt by injury with centre-forward Dwight Gayle missing from a frontline short on goals.
Alan Pardew may gamble on Yannick Bolasie leading the line, and added: "When we won at Anfield last season, Bolasie was applauded off by the Liverpool fans and that showed you what sort of game he had.
"Whenever you go to Anfield, you are made aware of the emotion of the place and the whole history of a great club. They have probably the best player in the country right now in Coutinho so it's going to a test of how we keep our ambition and self-belief."
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