Jurgen Klopp has denied Trent Alexander-Arnold was 'forced back' into action too early after the Liverpool right-back suffered another injury setback.
Alexander-Arnold is set to miss Liverpool's next five matches - including the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea - because of a recurrence to a knee injury.
The England international, 25, was taken off complaining of pain at half-time during Liverpool's win over Burnley last Saturday.
It came after he missed most of January due to ligament damage in his knee.
Alexander-Arnold may not return to action now until well into next month, with the March 10 clash with Manchester City a possible return date.
Klopp, speaking at his press conference ahead of Saturday lunchtime's visit to Brentford, denied suggestions Alexander-Arnold had been rushed back into his side.
'A thing we have to clarify a bit. I was not really aware of it, but I got the news that there was a discussion we might have 'forced' Trent back because of two setbacks,' Klopp said.
'Nobody wants that and nobody is doing that. Different cases, different scenarios and as long as I am here we will not force anybody back and never do.
'But we work in a high-performance area. We always try to catch the earliest moment.
'Unfortunately, when we catch that early moment nobody speaks about that. The last decision is always with the player, but if you always listen to the player they would play after two weeks and it's a real problem.
'The boys were in the moment when they played. They were fit. But the situation told us differently because it happened again.
'Very unlucky and unfortunate, but it can happen. We have to bring the boys back as soon possible but never before they are ready.'
Alexander-Arnold had returned to action on January 27 after missing three weeks. Klopp tried to blood him in gently with two substitutes appearances before giving him an hour against Arsenal.
But there were fears when the player failed to return for the second half at the weekend with the manager confirming afterwards: 'He felt (discomfort) in the same area in the knee. He got it stuck in the grass.'
There was better injury news for Klopp with forward Mohamed Salah back in full training and contention for selection this weekend after his hamstring injury.
Klopp added on the team news front: 'Ibou [Ibrahima Konate] is not suspended any more, Joe [Gomez] is fit again, Conor [Bradley] is back, Alisson [Becker] is back, so that's that's positive. Thiago is a no.'
Klopp also hinted that midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai could make the Wembley final on February 25.
'It's a super intense period. People think now about the final, absolutely, but before that we have Brentford and Luton, I'm not thinking a second about the final yet.
'It's a final, yes, one game, but there are two games they cannot play.
'With Dom it will be around that time [the final] we will see how that exactly how works. With Trent maybe a week or two longer so it's not great.
'I would say not sure if Dom has a chance for the final, but maybe. Trent will be after.'