Liverpool's 14-match unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end on Tuesday night following a defeat to Atletico Madrid, and Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has now explained why he hauled star forward Sadio Mane off at half-time.
The reigning European champions suffered a 1-0 defeat to Atletico in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, courtesy of an early goal from Spain international Saul Niguez.
Liverpool struggled to find a way back into the game and, following the interval, Klopp made his first change when Mane was substituted off in favour of last season's UCL-hero Divock Origi for the second-half.
Following the match, the former Borussia Dortmund boss revealed that he feared Mane would be sent off after being booked in the first half and lamented the fact that the opposition players were seemingly intent on getting him red-carded.
"It is part of football and I don't like it, but obviously the plan tonight was to get Sadio out of the game with a yellow card and then a possible second," Klopp said, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
"I was a little afraid his opponent would go down even if Sadio only even takes a deep breath (and) I didn't want to have that situation so that's why I took him off."
The 52-year-old was also forced to replace captain Jordan Henderson who pulled up in the second half with an apparent hamstring injury, but said it was too soon to know the full extent of the problem.
"Hendo felt his hamstring, unfortunately," Klopp added. "We have to wait. He was not too concerned but enough to go off, obviously."
The result was Liverpool's first defeat since a League Cup exit to Aston Villa on 17 December, although the club remains on a 42-match unbeaten run in league football. The return leg of the fixture will be played at Anfield on 11 March.
