The defeat, which saw Liverpool surrender their lead twice, denying them a spot in the FA Cup semi-final, added to the physical strain already endured by the team over recent weeks, compounded by numerous injury absences.
With the grueling 120-minute encounter against Manchester United further testing their endurance, Klopp emphasized the importance of ensuring the well-being of his players as they head into the international break.
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Klopp revealed his hopes for the players’ fitness upon their return from international duty, acknowledging the potential risks associated with the additional strain of representing their respective nations.
“Lucho felt his groin, Darwin [his] hamstring and Cody twisted his ankle. They play again in four or five days, it’s crazy.”
While Klopp remained optimistic about the severity of the issues, particularly regarding Darwin Nunez’s condition, the manager acknowledged the challenges posed by the upcoming March international break.
“I think most of them have friendlies, Wataru, I think, has qualifiers but I cannot make these decisions for the managers, most of them we don’t speak the same language.
“They want them in the best possible shape for the summer, most of them play [in summer tournaments], so I hope they don’t have to play two games, 90 minutes. That would be helpful, but it’s not it my hands.
“Does [the break] come at the right moment? If we would’ve kept playing on Thursday or Friday, I would’ve been fine with that, but it’s never cool when they are not around.
“I like it a lot when they are here and we can really give players a day off and just treatment. Let’s just hope they all come back in a good shape and then we go [again].”
