Daniel Sturridge's Omission the Talking Point After Liverpool Loss to Villarreal

Liverpool conceded a stoppage-time winner to Villarreal, leaving Jurgen's Klopp side with it all to do in next week's UEFA Europa League semi-final return leg at Anfield.

In their first European semi-final since 2010, Klopp opted for a conservative approach in Spain, against a side who had conceded just once in the competition this season. A 0-0 looked likely even before kick-off, and after 90 minutes, that was how it remained.

However, a long ball over the top allowed Denis Suarez in behind Liverpool's defence, and he squared for Adrian Lopez to tap in the only goal of the game in the second minute of added time.

It was a crushing blow for Liverpool, and arguably the worst result they could have left Estadio El Madrigal with. A goalless draw would have been a good result, a score draw of any sort would have been better, and even a defeat but having scored an away goal would arguably have been better than 0-0.

An away goal for the Reds would have put them firmly in the driving seat back at Anfield in the second leg next week, especially with Villarreal struggling away from home.

With away goals so vital in European competition, it's the omission of striker Daniel Sturridge that has dominated the headlines in wake of the last-gasp defeat for Klopp's side.

Speaking before the match, Klopp told BT Sport (h/t ESPN) it had been a "very difficult decision" to leave out a player with 11 goals in just 21 games this season—including four in his last five appearances. 

"I thought about a lot of things and at the end I decided for a little bit more stability," said Klopp, who opted for a three-man midfield of Joe Allen, Lucas Leiva and James Milner, leaving just three attacking positions.

"In a 4-3-3 we didn't play with Daniel until now, so we thought for today—this 4-3-3, 4-5-1, sometimes a diamond, this very flexible style—it makes sense that the players played together before and that's why we decided for this lineup."

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Klopp opted for the tactical setup that had proved successful for the emphatic Premier League away wins at Chelsea and Manchester City, with Roberto Firmino as the No. 9, flanked by Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana.

But those performances were back in October and November, five months ago, when Sturridge wasn't available.

Those games were also against teams who are very different in approach to Villarreal. The Spanish side play a compact 4-4-2, sit deep and make it difficult for you to break them down. Quite the opposite of how Liverpool were able to dismantle City in particular by hitting them with blistering counter-attacks.

This was a game where Liverpool needed an out-and-out striker to occupy the opposition defence. Klopp hasn't got much wrong in his short time at Anfield so far, but his decision not to use Sturridge looks like being one.

Per This Is Anfield, the manager said after the match that he had expected more problems from the Spanish side. So quite why he opted for the out-of-form Jordon Ibe to replace the unwell Philippe Coutinho at half-time is far from clear.

Surely if he'd noticed that the La Liga outfit weren't causing as many issues as he'd expected, then bringing on Sturridge and ensuring an away goal would have been more logical than introducing an inexperienced and confidence-shot teenager.

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Ibe's second-half display showed exactly why he's been out of favour in recent months, error strewn and frequently giving away possession in dangerous areas. His mistake allowed Cedric Bakambu in just before full-time, but Simon Mignolet produced a superb save to deny their top scorer.

If the decision not to bring on Sturridge at half-time was disappointing, the decision not to use him at all was even more baffling. It showed a lack of ambition to get an away goal and instead showed the manager was happy with the 0-0 draw. That decision ultimately came unstuck in the dying seconds.

Klopp's approach in this game was one which seemed out of character for the German, perhaps offering too much respect to the Spanish side. It was a safety-first approach, designed to ensure they didn't lose, rather than go for the win.

Such an approach is always dangerous when it only takes one moment of poor defending to come undone.

Future

Sturridge has found himself benched for the key European games in both legs against Borussia Dortmund and now in Villarreal.

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Even without Divock Origi, Danny Ings and Christian Benteke not fit from the start, the England international was overlooked twice by the manager.

Klopp had been full of praise for Sturridge after his goal and performance against Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday, and the striker's fitness was not a reason in not playing him on the big occasion.

With six goals in his last 10 appearances, the 26-year-old would be justified in feeling aggrieved at not getting a look-in.

But managers are paid to make big decisions, and sometimes they'll get them wrong. Earlier this week, we saw Pep Guardiola surprisingly leave out Thomas Muller for Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League semi-final at Atletico Madrid.

You can bet both Muller and Sturridge start the second legs for their respective sides, both 1-0 down, because they're certainly needed. 

The question for Klopp now is whether to start Sturridge in Liverpool's league game at Swansea City on Sunday, leaving a day less recovery than if he'd have featured on Thursday night after playing on Saturday against Newcastle.

If he opts not to play the former Chelsea man in Wales, then it will be 12 days without starting a game by the time Villarreal arrive at Anfield on Thursday.

Sturridge's omission could have longer-term repercussions too; will a player with a goalscoring record as impressive as the England striker be willing to stick around knowing he won't be the go-to man on the big occasion?

Klopp must keep the forward onside over the next week, because he needs him more than ever for next week's return leg—a game that could prove decisive for Sturridge's Anfield future.