JURGEN KLOPP SAYS his current Liverpool squad is the strongest he has ever worked with as the players prepare for a return to action after a warm-weather training camp in Spain.
Despite the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £142 million (€142m) last month, the former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund boss said it was difficult to leave players out.
Last week’s 5-0 thrashing of Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League was achieved without the suspended Emre Can and long-term injured Nathaniel Clyne but there was still no room in the matchday 18 for the likes of Dominic Solanke, Ragnar Klavan and Ben Woodburn, the youngest scorer in the club’s history.
The result means Liverpool, who host West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday, have virtually ensured a first Champions League quarter-final for nine years, with the second leg at Anfield now a formality.
“It’s really hard in the moment to make the squad,” Klopp told the club’s TV channel, LFCTV.
Wow, I’ve never had a situation like that with the quality of the players not being in the squad.
“They all have made really big steps. Dom Solanke was not in the squad but is in outstanding shape at the moment. Ragnar Klavan, unbelievable. Ben Woodburn makes steps and is really close to everything.
“It’s difficult, it’s getting more and more difficult, but that’s good for us of course.”
Striker Danny Ings was one of the players to come off the bench at the Estadio do Dragao.
It was just the 25-year-old’s sixth appearance of the season after making his comeback from two serious knee injuries in the previous two campaigns.
“Danny is in fantastic shape. It always takes time. Now, after two-and-a-half years, he can play in the Champions League. It’s a wonderful story, it’s really deserved,” added Klopp, whose side are third in the Premier League.
“Is Danny knocking on the door for the first team? Yes, absolutely. It’s good. He needed time.
“A few months ago it was different but a player like him, when they come back they think ‘I am under pressure’ and they want to come in immediately and get game time.
“Danny went the hard way. He played a lot of games for the U23s.
“If you feel like a settled player, like he usually is, and then you play U23 and are not the best player on the pitch, then it’s not nice but it’s an important experience again.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Surely the one before Christmas was stronger?
@Eoghan Joyce: obviously
@Eoghan Joyce: not true
@Eoghan Joyce: He still won’t win anything though!
We have a really good team with a few additions. Keita on his way Allison hopefully and maybe another midfielder and a back up winger l. Anyone who says we’re in a bad place is either blind or a begrudger
@Ollie Watson: need another cb and and aging striker with experience who can come off the bench to change a game
@Ollie Watson: Liverpool have been in a good place for the last 2 years. Unfortunately, failure by the manager to see and address the goalkeeper and defence situation has prevented Liverpool from progressing to next level
@Brian O’Loughlin: did he not just buy a centre half for €75m?
@PJ Connolly: he did but how many transfer windows has he had to do so? I love Klopp but he is very stubbron sometimes and won’t realize the weak spotd or at least doesn’t work quick enough to fix them
@PJ Connolly: He persisted and continues to persist with players that have routinely let him down. I’m all for managers being loyal to their players and giving them a chance to redeem themselves but there comes a time when you need to realise you’re not good enough.
@Brian O’Loughlin: maybe he prefers to wait for the player he wants instead of throwing cash around willy nilly like some of his competitors. Van Dijk and Keita are the two obvious players to point at!
One thing that always stood out to me is that he never targeted any of the Dotmund boys during transfer windows
#6 is on the way !
@England’s Envy: you’ll be home in time for Corrie so
Doesn’t say much!!
Chap’s a spoofer ! Thought Rodgers was bad
@Ragman: a spoof
@Jamie Smith: why are you not defending your team after they lost to Wigan hahahahahaha
@Ragman: I’m not a Liverpool fan at all but don’t get this Rogers was a spoofed. He’s an amazing coach and he’s irish. We should be aiming for him to overhaul our I Irish set up from bottom to top.