Klopp right to rotate Liverpool squad during hectic schedule, Neville says

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is right to rotate his squad ahead of a hectic schedule to keep his best players fresh for the second half of the season, former Manchester United defender Phil Neville has said.

Eyebrows were raised in the lead-up to the Reds' Merseyside derby clash with Everton last weekend after it was announced that Brazilian duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino would both be starting on the bench for the hosts, with Klopp making six changes to the team that thrashed Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.

Despite enjoying nearly 80% of possession, the Reds could only come away with a point after Wayne Rooney's late penalty cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opener.

Former Liverpool centre-back Phil Thompson said the team selection was an indication of complacency on Klopp's part, but Neville said the German had the right idea.

The Reds suffered a further set-back in the league in midweek when they were held to a goalless draw by West Brom despite Klopp naming a strong team.

"With the way he plays, he has to rotate," Neville told Sky Sports. "I actually agree with what he is doing. I think he did take a little bit of a risk on Sunday against Everton. They dominated the game, then Everton got the penalty and got the draw.

"Then, against West Brom, Klopp played his strongest team and they also drew. You are damned if you do, damned if you don't.

"In the three or four games before that when he rotated and they got good results and nobody said anything about it.

"He has to make sure that in December and January his best players are fit and ready, because if they're not and they suffer the injuries they had last January, particularly the way that he plays, they will again have a difficult January-February."

Klopp indicated after the Everton game that he would continue to rotate his squad, saying he could not "ignore the number of games" his team plays over the festive season.