Jurgen Klopp addressed the media on Friday ahead of Liverpool’s long-awaited return to action after the international break.
Here are five key points from the manager ahead of Liverpool’s home clash with Brighton:
Trent’s inevitable questions…
“Do you really want to open this box? I’m serious,” Klopp warned reporters after the inevitable questions about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s situation in England were raised.
Of course they want to, and Jurgen finally explained what he really thinks about Gareth Southgate’s use of Liverpool’s most creative player.
Klopp said his right-back was not in a great mood after returning from international duty but backed him up to show what England are missing in the coming weeks.
“There are stories all the time that people say he’s not a good defender. That is not true,” she said.
“He is a young player, he is 23 years old and there is room to improve…
“Whatever team he was coaching at the time, I would definitely sign him.”
Extensive injury update
It’s been a while since we’ve heard Jurgen deliver a generally positive injury update, but that’s exactly what we got on Friday.
Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out, but Ibrahima Konate could be involved against Brighton.
Klopp added that Robertson “looks great” and should be back next week or the week after.
“Luis Díaz just landed yesterday morning, I still haven’t seen him. I heard that he is good,” Klopp explained.
“Darwin Núñez, caution after intense trips and games, the same for Diogo.
“Calvin is not ready to play but I am delighted that he can train now, he is really good. He needs training. There will be a time when he’s probably Under-21 to be able to play, because now we play all the time.
“I think Kelleher will play for the U21s this weekend. It hasn’t been his season yet, he’s been injured for a long time, but he looks good in training.
“Ibou also needs training. Are you coming back on the weekend? It depends on today’s training.”
Next 6 “very important” weeks
This could be a defining period in Liverpool’s season, and Klopp knows it.
After a disappointing start to the campaign, the Reds need points – and they need them fast – if they are to have any chance of winning the league or Champions League this season.
“For us now, the next six weeks are obviously very important,” the boss admitted.
“We didn’t get the start we wanted to get, for some explainable reasons and for some inexplicable reasons.
“It just wasn’t good enough at times. But from here we go. Now, the job is to accumulate points”.
Fully fit squad for “mid to late” October?
Klopp was much more positive about the players he has available to him and even mentioned a potential schedule for those who are working to get back into shape.
Robertson, Keita, Jones and Oxlade-Chamberlain are still out for now, but the boss seemed to hint that all four should return sometime in October.
“If everyone comes back and everyone else stays fit, then we have a team where we can deal with a lot of football games.
“If we don’t have that, then it’s difficult. You push and the available guys have to play too often.
“At the moment, it seems that the situation is better. Even the four players I mentioned earlier are back. By mid to late October, the team would be complete if no one else was out.”
praise ramsay
It was great to see Calvin Ramsay back in training this week, wasn’t it?
Jurgen certainly agrees, and was asked what he feels the Scottish right-back can bring to his team when fully fit.
He is not yet expected to be part of the first team for a while as he recovers fit, but Klopp says he is “excited” by Ramsay’s potential.
“He is an outstanding talent,” Klopp said.
“We explore it. I’ve seen a lot of your games. He did exceptionally well. He is a real player, he is really involved in everything. I’m excited for him.
“Then he came here and had a back problem and has been out ever since. I saw him two or three times in training. Now we know a lot more about him when he was a child and now we start working.”
