Jurgen Klopp insists he is not ‘too loyal’ to players but accepts Liverpool are ‘underperforming’ | Football News

Jurgen Klopp insists he is not “very committed” to senior players who are “underperforming” and says Liverpool will only work on his squad in January if a deal is “available and feasible”.

Klopp has some issues to sort out after admitting Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton was the worst performance of his managerial career.

The team have lost six times in the Premier League – after losing four times in 63 games in all competitions last season – and are 10 points off the top four.

Speaking on the eve of Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round tie with Wolves, Klopp said Liverpool’s problems were “complex” and could not be solved by just spending in the transfer window, although he admitted the need to strengthen – Liverpool have spent up to £. 45m on the signing of Cody Gakpo this January.

Under particular scrutiny is Liverpool’s aging midfield with captain Jordan Henderson himself admitting Saturday’s defeat at Brighton “lacked energy”.

Henderson (32) and Fabinho (29) – who has won every club trophy during his time at Anfield – and 31-year-old Thiago, who arrived later but was still a double-time trophy winner last season, remain the Reds’ first-choice midfielders. .

Dismissing criticism, he is too dependent on the so-called old guard, Klopp said: “I heard that I am very loyal, but not loyal. The problem is very complicated. If you can go out and bring another player to replace someone, then it makes sense.

“But if you can’t bring anyone, you can’t take anyone. I’m not very loyal. In Dortmund before I left, I said that something has to change – a management change or many other things have to change.

“I’ll be here as long as I’m wanted. If nobody tells me to go, I won’t go. That’s for the future, in the summer, not now. The only thing I want is to fix this situation. — that’s all.

“It’s clear that there will be important changes. There are injuries, but nobody wants to see them. The boys feel the responsibility, but we stick together with everything we have.”

He added: “Do we need to strengthen? Oh yes. But is this the right time? I can’t see because of the situation we are in, I think we know exactly how, and this. I can’t change. the answer every week. Even when we lost another game since the last press conference, it does not change”.

Klopp: We are not stubborn

Klopp also answered questions about whether poor performances, compounded by injuries to Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and most recently Virgil van Dijk, will force the club’s hand in the January window.

“We also look outside,” he said. “It’s not that we’re stubborn and think like that, we’re going to go with these kids until 2050 or whatever. . What’s more important is what we can do. It’s always the same, every year.

“I can’t change the answer – if the solution is there for us, it’s available and we can do it, of course we’ll bring the players to help. I can’t sit here and blame other people, the players, all the time. It’s my responsibility.

“That’s my job [get them to perform]. We have limited options but we have players who are under contract here, they are not available. But if we bring players, we can’t bring everything on the Premier League and Champions League lists.

Liverpool struggling Q&A: Injuries, fatigue or finances?

The reason for Liverpool’s struggles is a simple question with multiple answers.

A number of factors have made Klopp’s current situation the most tested of his time at Anfield. The manager will point to injuries: he is without four strikers at Brighton – two long-term absences – as well as influential centre-back Van Dijk.

Fatigue, both physical and mental, also plays a role. Klopp finally admitted on Friday that the 63-game 2021/22 season that saw Liverpool win two trophies, almost lift the Premier League and the Champions League, and play in every match suited the team. Captain Jordan Henderson confirmed after beating Brighton, the players lacked energy and confidence.

tired? Lack of energy? How?

Yes, at the end of Liverpool’s marathon last season, Brighton’s three starting midfielders – Henderson (32), Thiago Alcantara (31) and Fabinho (29) – have a combined age of 92. Of the alternatives James Milner is 37, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones are no longer missed much of the campaign due to injury while youngster Harvey Elliott has struggled in a poor team.

So why hasn’t Klopp refreshed his squad?

In one word: money.

Owners Fenway Sports Group have found £35m-£45m to bring in PSV striker Gakpo this month despite him being a longer-range target as they look to fend off interest from other clubs. Klopp wanted Aurelien Tchouameni to strengthen the midfield, but the France international opted for Real Madrid in the summer.

The midfield remains an area that needs attention and it is suspected that FSG are budgeting for a break-the-bank deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

What can Klopp do?

After not making any more signs in this window, it seems that they should bother.

The return of Firmino and Darwin Nunez will help, but the midfield option is to put more faith in the likes of Keita and Jones and hopefully provide some refreshment.

What are short-term solutions to common problems?

Finding a way to avoid being fragile defensively would be a start. Liverpool have conceded the first goal 21 times in their last 35 games and haven’t kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since October.

That’s another problem that can be traced back to his lack of midfield, but he looks so open at the back of opposition teams that he knows he’s going to get a chance. Changes in formation may have helped, but Klopp has made small tweaks without much success.

Mistakes in Liverpool’s midfield

Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:

The spotlight is shining so brightly on Liverpool’s defense now that it’s blinding to see – but focusing solely on individuals playing in the middle of the back line will allow others to escape criticism.

Yes, Joel Matip was at fault for Brighton’s opening goal with a poor pass, but so far, he and Ibrahim Konate have defended with great cohesion and assurance. He just had to because the pressure towards the goal was relentless from a Brighton side who were now purring.

And why is the Liverpool centre-back so busy? Well, it comes from Liverpool’s midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago, who play a very odd role from just the two forwards. It didn’t suit him.

Brighton duo Alexis Mac Allister and Moses Caicedo make the Liverpool trio look like they should consider playing in the veteran league.

Central midfielders are the heart of Jurgen Klopp’s team – when they fail, as they are now, then the forward and back lines suffer. This Liverpool team not only malfunctions but threatens to spin out of control.