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Jurgen Klopp insists he hasn't lost faith in Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri as he explained their recent lack of opportunities in Liverpool's title challenge.

Both attacking players having slipped down the pecking order ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Burnley at Anfield.

Keita has only played six minutes of league football over the past month, while Shaqiri hasn't started a game in any competition since January. They were both unused substitutes in the Merseyside derby stalemate with Everton.

Klopp has favoured a 4-3-3 formation of late with a midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum lining up at Goodison.

Keep up to date with the build-up to Liverpool vs Burnley here

Asked if it was a case of not trusting Keita and Shaqiri, Klopp said: “No. It is about our situation in training and what's needed individually for the next opponent. That is all that we think about.

“We don’t stick to one formation or the other, but the boys need to offer. Sometimes it is more possible and sometimes it is not possible for different reasons.

“Sometimes we don’t have the sessions. Then it's more difficult to offer something. It's all part of the decision making.

“It is not that we are stubborn and think about one system. I can remember when we played 4-4-1-1 and it was really good in the beginning and then for sure you started talking about it when we didn't win the games in the manner you wanted us to win.

“Is that really the right system and why doesn’t Mo Salah play on the wing? There is always a reason to talk.”

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Keita has struggled to hold down a place in the side since his £52.75million move from RB Leipzig last summer.

The Guinea international shone in last month's home win over Bournemouth when he was heavily involved in all three goals. However, he has found himself back warming the bench since.

“It's just that we have to think about a lot of things before a game,” Klopp said.

“We played quite a few teams with really good set-pieces, stuff like that. We needed to make sure that we had the right line up and set up for that.

“Naby is actually in a good moment and has trained well. It's only been the last three games he didn't play too much.

“The team is in a good moment and we feel in a good moment so it's difficult if things are working out well in midfield.

“If we play the system we usually play most of the time then there are only three positions (in midfield). Somebody has to be out but it's all good. They are all fit and we can use them all.”

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Shaqiri was a key attacking weapon for Klopp in the first half of the campaign as he contributed six goals and three assists.

The Swiss attacker largely featured on the right side when the manager employed a 4-2-3-1 system. But since the turn of the year his influence has waned and he hasn't been involved in three of the Reds' past four matches.

“It's similar with Shaq,” Klopp continued.

“He had a little injury and was out (for Bournemouth at home). There was something with his back and he needed a little time.

“I remember the moment when he got the injury - he won a heading challenge near the sideline. His body wasn't used to that! It affected him.

“With the line up we had and system wise, it wasn't difficult but we have to change a little bit if Shaq is playing. For the last few games we didn't do that. He's fully fit now.”

(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Klopp was criticised for his substitutions at Goodison after deciding not to bring on either Keita or Shaqiri.

The manager stood accused of not being positive enough as Liverpool wasted the chance to regain top spot in the Premier League table.

The Reds have drawn four of their last six league matches but Klopp dismissed suggestions that they need to change their approach if they are going to beat Manchester City to the title.

“That doesn’t mean we throw 11 players in their box, hope we score and meet them at the halfway line again. That's not how it works,” he said.

“That is why I was a bit disappointed in the last press conference because we don't play PlayStation and you all know that.

“It is a sign of being desperate: 'Let's try that way, oh that doesn’t work, let’s try that way.'

“The way we did it brought us where we are and if someone thinks we should be now 10 points ahead of City, I can’t help this person.

“In these moments everyone gives me the feeling: 'It's a chance, use it or you are the same as all the others who tried it.'

“But for us, we are trying for the first time (for the title) and for the first time we are not in a bad position.

“Let's do what we did that brought us here, plus more intensity if possible. With a positive atmosphere around us, let's try it. Not this little weak flower where we say: 'Try it, it doesn’t work, s***, let's try another way.' That’s not how I understand it.”

Barring the rout of Watford, Liverpool have struggled for fluency in recent weeks. They have fired blanks in three of their last four matches but Klopp doesn't believe that a lack of creativity is hampering their push for glory.

(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

“Against Everton, I can't remember another game where we had more clear chances than in that game,” he said.

“A lot of teams have a different situation at the moment. Look at Bournemouth against City, who had 80% possession, 22 or whatever shots but at the end (Riyad) Mahrez with the right foot, the ball rolling inside the near post.

“Is that normal for City? I wouldn't say that's normal because they usually use 80% of those chances. We always have to adapt to specific moments to win the games rather than comparing it with other times.

“It's clear that we want to create against Burnley, we have to create, but if we only think about creating, we don't think about their real strengths, which are pretty clear, with long build ups and then really going for the second balls in a very specific but good way.

“We need to win these balls and hopefully have a lot of shots on target and finishes. It will be wild and we have to be ready for that.

“We are good at creating. We're creating much more than last season. In the last few games we didn't score as often but 10 days ago we played against Watford and we were flying, everything was brilliant. Then we have a draw and we talk again about finishing and all that stuff.

“It's all good. We're in a position we deserve to be. Now let's use it. Nine games to go - the final third of the season. We are in a position that I don’t think a lot of people would have expected with nine games to go. Let’s go for it, let's try everything, be positive, be lively, be on the front foot, be a real threat, use your power, use your skills and then we will see.”

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With the club's injury situation improving, Klopp believes the Reds are ideally placed to finish the campaign strongly.

"Yeah, 100%, that's my feeling at the moment," he added.

"Everything is prepared for that. It looks as positive as I don't know since when. People are coming back. We had to go through situations with two centre-backs, one centre-back plus Fabinho. We came through all these situations. Midfield there were exactly three players left.

"To cope and deal with all of the situations during the season that is the art, that is what it is about and then if you do that then you are in a situation that pretty much all the other teams want to be.

"We have nine matches to go but only one to play this weekend and that's Burnley. If you go against them with all you have and then on the other hand side you give them the opportunity to score simply and then they defend like they can defend then that makes life quite uncomfortable.

"The target is to win the game - not to go nuts in the game."