Jurgen Klopp has revealed Ibrahima Konate was not substituted as an injury precaution, saying the change for Joe Gomez was pre-planned
The Reds lost their final group game in Brussels as Klopp fielded what was the club's youngest-ever team for a European game
Konate was a surprise inclusion from the start as he lined up alongside Jarell Quansah
France international Konate was withdrawn at the break for Gomez and Klopp moved to play down fears of another defensive injury
Klopp
"We just wanted to share the intensity,"
"Do I want to play Joe Gomez 90 or Ibou 90 if we had the chance to do that? [I decided] 45 and 45, the same in midfield.
"These changes were planned before the game, independent of the result. We just tried to give it a go. It was clear that Jarell if he could play through then he would play through. That was the thinking behind it."
On Quansah's performance and goal,
Klopp added: "It was important. I think we all know against Crystal Palace that he played not a bad game against Palace but if you are then that involved in kind of the penalty, a strange one, but we are involved, that's not cool.
"And I am really happy that he could see the other side of the metal and score this goal today. That's what I liked the most from all of the boys – that they really gave it a proper go.
"And that's most important that we don't think: 'OK, it's difficult, they are a really good team and do what they do every week.' We have to find a way to get used to each other.
"And especially Jarell, with either side Ibou and then Joe in the second half, that was really good. They had to defend big spaces in the counter-attacks and I thought they did that really. So, I am really happy for him."
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