JURGEN KLOPP DOES not envisage Liverpool dipping into the transfer market to reinforce their midfield before the end of the summer window despite a hamstring injury to Thiago Alcantara.
The Spanish international is expected to be out for four to six weeks, leaving the Reds light on midfield options with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones also sidelined.
Midfield was already arguably the weakest area of a Liverpool squad that came within two games of winning an unprecedented quadruple of trophies last season.
But Klopp said the club would already have added in that area if they thought it necessary.
“I am happy with the strength, size and quality of my squad. We have injuries. Now it is the question how long the players will be out and there are different solutions,” Klopp said on Friday at his pre-match press conference for Monday’s clash with Crystal Palace.
“One – and there are plenty – is the transfer market but the transfer market only makes sense if you can bring in the right player, not a player.
“If there was the right solution out there then we would already have done it. We’re not stubborn and say ‘no way, we don’t bring in anybody’.
“If there would be the right player we would have done it, we would do it, but I don’t see it because we had a lot of conversations already and it doesn’t look like something will happen.”
Klopp turned to 36-year-old James Milner off the bench to inject some life into the Liverpool midfield in a disappointing 2-2 draw at newly-promoted Fulham to start their Premier League campaign last weekend.
Afterwards, Klopp was scathing about his side’s performance, claiming they were lucky to escape Craven Cottage with a point after twice coming from behind.
He is expecting a far faster start for Liverpool’s return to Anfield for the first time this season on Monday.
“I didn’t like the start at all. I saw then the attitude to fight back but that’s a different thing. It’s better you have a high intense, high concentrated, lively start in a football game than not,” added Klopp.
“Having a slow start doesn’t mean you have to start slow all the time or you will never do it again, but it’s a sign. Use it as information, change it and go from there.”
Very young for this role but fair play to him a fine hurler
@Finnster: don’t know how he got young hurler of the year , won nothing was taken off in most senior games .Jake Morris won 2 All Ireland’s and made a massive contribution in both , makes me wonder
@Martin: Ha good man Martin. In 2014 Kilkenny went unbeaten, won every competition and still got less all stars.
Mullen got taken off in 2 games the final when he was clearly not right and the leinster 2nd round game with 4 mins to go and he fell awkwardly.
Jake Morris got 3 point in the Munster final, AI quarter, Semi and Final combined. Mullen got 4 vs Limerick in semi alone.
@Shay Lawlor: Facts isn’t his strong point.
@Shay Lawlor: and Mullen won what ?
Rewarding failure is a bad road to go down . Time to get over 2014 now I think
@Martin: it’s young hurler of the year. Not which young hurler played on the better team. Your argument is silly
@thomas walsh: Morris made a massive contribution to both All Ireland winning teams but only in my humble opinion , so sorry if that’s a silly argument
Why not pick a starter instead of a couple of subs
@Martin: they pick the captain a different way in Kilkenny
@Paddy: they should have gave TJ another go 3rd time lucky and all that
@Martin: all the luck in the world isn’t going to swing an AI for this Kilkenny group. They’re really very average and I would rank them probably at 6 in the pecking order. Not Cody’s fault , it’s just the supply line has dried up.
@Johnny B: I’ve seen them written off too many times before , I know they don’t get away with what they used to but ask Limerick they had them beaten a point a man in 2018
@Martin: didn’t do much good come the final, never write off a Kilkenny team managed by Cody, but this one certainly doesn’t carry the same fear factor as previous teams. Aura is gone, for now at least.
@Martin: Get away with what ?
@Now or Never: Still have limericks number
@Barry Dowling: the blatant dirt and hatchet men , referees fear of Cody . That’s all . Well documented by Loughnane
@Martin: Loughnane waffles a lot about kilkenny. Thats well “documented”
Very young fir this role but fair play to him a fine hurler