Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Sadio Mane’s inclusion in Liverpool’s win at West Ham was one of a number of late decisions.
Mane completed over 75 minutes on his first Reds outing for over four weeks during the 4-1 rout at the London Stadium on Saturday night.
The Senegal international’s involvement proved a surprise in the wake of his return to full training from a hamstring injury just 48 hours earlier.
But Klopp admitted that Mane’s starting role on the back of just two sessions back in the first-team fold was an unprecedented choice on his part.
He said: “There have been a few very difficult things to decide since yesterday.
“Bringing Sadio Mane in at the beginning following his injury, after one training session, yesterday the second session, I’ve never done it before to be honest.
“Changing a system without proper training again yesterday, [for] the first time, we did it.
“We never know how it would have been if we don’t score the first one, as it was kind of an open game till that point, as we had to get used to it (the system) a little bit.”
Jordan Henderson was a notable omission from Liverpool’s emphatic win due to a muscle injury sustained in training ahead of the trip to the capital.
“He told me I can play, but unfortunately the medical department thought a little bit different, so after a week like this it normal that players feel their muscle,” said Klopp.
“Jordan felt differently obviously so I had to make this decision, so he’s not in the squad.”