Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp has demanded an approaching FA Cup elimination round against Manchester City will no affect his group choice for Wednesday's Champions League tie at home to Benfica.
Last weekend the Reds, still in the chase after a phenomenal fourfold of prizes in the one season, drew 2-2 with City to stay simply a point behind the Premier League pioneers.
They will confront City in the future in the last four of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday however before then the six-time lords of Europe face Benfica in the second leg of a Champions League quarterfinal at Anfield.
Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out to win the English League Cup last at Wembley in February, have a sound 3-1 lead following the principal leg in Portugal, which has prompted theory Klopp could rest vital participants with an eye to the FA Cup tie.
In any case, the German chief, talking at a pre-match question and answer session on Tuesday, demanded: "The following game has no impact on the line-up for later yet the last game has.
"Very serious timetable. Nobody harmed apparently except for we really want to see who is freshest."
Klopp added: "A very significant game (against Benfica). We made a respectable attempt to get to the Champions League and presently we can come to semis."
Klopp, asked how Liverpool would move toward the tie against Benfica, answered: "It's 3-1 at halftime, it's basically as interesting as 2-0. A decent premise, yet assuming they score one - like we felt against Inter - the game changes.
"We felt it when they scored the week before. We really need to cause them to feel this is a spot they would rather not go."
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