LIVERPOOL benched £85million record buy Darwin Nunez for Sunday's trip to Manchester City.
Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota were named in attack as Nunez's difficult transition to the Premier League continues.
But Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp's decision still surprised many as the Uruguay superstar seemed to be finding his feet in recent weeks.
Klopp also raised eyebrows by including James Milner and Joe Gomez in the absence of injured centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
Ex-Benfica hero Nunez, 22, netted in Liverpool's 2-2 Prem opener at Fulham on August 6.
But he was sent off for headbutting Joachim Anderson in the next match, a 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace.
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And after returning from his three-game ban he struggled, although overall he has scored twice in five Prem games.
He even admitted, at the start of this month, that he can't understand Klopp's team talks.
He told TNT Sports, he said: “The truth is, I honestly don't understand anything when he talks.
“Of course, I ask my teammates to see what he said, but I think he is very clear about his style of play.
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“He asks us to do the simple things, not to be afraid to play games, to have confidence.
"When he loses a ball, he wants us to put pressure on him. That's what he always asks us, we have things clear.”
Klopp himself has backed Nunez to prove his class once he settles down.
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