Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said that he dropped Jordan Henderson from his starting lineup for the game with Spartak Moscow because "it made sense".
After Henderson was only named on the bench for the crucial Champions League encounter on Wednesday game, questions were raised over why the club's captain was not involved.
However, Klopp has dismissed speculation that there was any underlying reason why the England international was named as a replacement, claiming that he expected a "sh*t" story to emerge in the media.
The 50-year-old told reporters: "Even a captain cannot play all the time. Jordan's in a good moment but I thought it made sense. I knew people would make a sh*t story of it.
"Being the skipper of Liverpool is the hardest job in world football because the man before you was Steven Gerrard."
Henderson - who has made 16 starts for Liverpool in all competitions this season - could be recalled for Sunday's Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Darren Plant
