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Jurgen Klopp insists there's no room for sentiment when it comes to tough selection decisions as he declared: “I'm their friend but not their best friend.”

The Liverpool boss sprung a surprise by leaving captain Jordan Henderson out of his starting line up for the Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday night.

Klopp revealed that was down to Henderson's workload in recent weeks and the fact that he wanted him firing on all cylinders for Saturday's Premier League trip to Newcastle United.

With Liverpool still challenging on two fronts, the manager says he had to regard the games at the Nou Camp and St James' Park as equally vital.

“In your question is immediately involved the idea that Newcastle is not as important as Barcelona,” Klopp said.

(Image: VI Images via Getty Images)

“Because Hendo played five games in a row, outstanding shape. I usually don’t like to explain things like this but I do it once.

“Five games in a row, the only one in the midfield who did that. And three games in six days were coming.

“So it's clear Hendo can not play these three games - so you tell me which is the most important one?”

Henderson ended up coming off the bench midway through the first half after Naby Keita limped off with a groin injury.

The skipper maintained his excellent recent form and looks certain to be recalled against Rafa Benitez's side as the Reds look to regain top spot from Manchester City.

“It was clear Hendo would play (against Barcelona) but wouldn't start,” Klopp added.

“Naby’s now injured but you try to avoid that sometimes with different line ups. Naby didn’t play that number of games like all the others so he could have been more resistant against injury but it happened still.

“How I said, I am the friend of the players, but not their best friend. So I can not make decisions because of ‘that’s a big game so you can have this and a picture', all that stuff.

“I am not like this - I never was, I never will be. I make decisions for good reasons - my good reasons obviously. And sometimes people understand them and sometimes not.

“But I expect in situations like this the understanding of the players. It's not a case of a lot of explanation around that. There will be reactions, but not from the players I hope.”