Jurgen Klopp forced into U-turn as Liverpool boss makes Burnley admission

Jurgen Klopp admitted that his preparations for Liverpool’s Premier League encounter with Burnley were torn apart by Jordan Henderson’s injury.

The Liverpool captain played the full 90 minutes at the heart of defence in the goalless draw with Manchester United on Sunday.

And the England midfielder had been due to partner Fabinho again in Thursday night’s meeting with the Clarets at Anfield.

But after suffering a groin strain in training, Henderson was forced to sit out the clash with Sean Dyche’s side.

"Jordan Henderson felt (something) a little bit and we hope it is not serious and that is why he is not in the squad,” Klopp confirmed pre-game.

As such, Joel Matip returned from his own recent injury troubles to start.

However, Klopp also detailed that the Reds had been preparing to start the same defensive line before Henderson’s problem led to the switch.

"We planned to play with Hendo and Fabinho again, said Klopp.

“Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood fight with all they have and if they don't get the ball they go down, it is tricky.

“It is about how the defence deals with these specific situations."

Without Henderson and vice-captain James Milner in the starting lineup, Dutch midfielder Gini Wijnaldum took the captain's armband at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also dropped down to the bench, with Divock Origi starting in attack, after three successive league games without a goal.

In his programme notes, Henderson had insisted that the struggle for goals was down to the entire side, not just Salah, Firmino and Sadio Mane.

“We know we are not firing on all cylinders at the moment. Goals are not coming as freely as we would like them to, and games are becoming more difficult as a result.

"This is a team issue, not an 'attack' problem, because one thing that the gaffer has always drummed into us ever since he has been here is that we are all responsible for everything.

“Every single one of us is responsible for the team scoring goals and every single one of us is responsible for the team not scoring goals. It is that simple.

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