Jurgen Klopp has stated that his three Liverpool substitutions in the Europa League win over Royal Union Saint-Gilloise were planned.

Klopp surprised everyone by starting Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez in Group E at Anfield. This despite Cody Gakpo being ruled out with injury and questionable for Sunday’s Premier League match against Brighton, with Diogo Jota already suspended.

Wataru Endo was also given an early start as the Reds made nine changes. Liverpool struggled in the first half, with Salah and Nunez both missing good chances before Ryan Gravenberch scored on 42 minutes. Salah, Nunez, and Endo were replaced after the break by Luis Diaz, Curtis Jones, and Alexis Mac Allister.

Liverpool would win in stoppage time versus Union, thanks to Diogo Jota’s cool finish.

Klopp informed reporters about the decision, “Yes, all three subs were planned.” That was the plan if we could pull it off. If we could accomplish it and no one else had any difficulty, it was obvious that these three boys went off.”