Won't give Premier League matches to youngsters just for fun: Jurgen Klopp

LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that the club's youngsters won't get Premier League games just because they have already won the title and can experiment in the six league games left to be played this season.

Liverpool were thrashed 0-4 by Manchester City on Thursday in their first game since securing their first top-flight title in 30 years.

"The youngsters are really close, but we won't give them Premier League matches just for fun," Klopp was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"We want to win football games and to win football games the best players have to be on the pitch," said Klopp.

"If the young boys are part of these best players then they will be on the pitch.

"They are so close, they are really good and they are our future - but they will not play now because I want to see them in a Premier League game.

"We don't give Premier League games as Christmas presents."

Liverpool will take on 18th-placed Aston Villa on Sunday.

"We are really in the competition, and it's not just about the other teams like Aston Villa fighting to stay in the league, Brighton fighting to stay in the league," said Klopp.

"It's not about respect, we just want to do it because that's the case. The boys are really good. But it's not like we are giving Premier League appearances away like sweets." IANS 

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