Jürgen Klopp on Singapore trip, transfers, captaincy, season aims and more

The Reds boss spoke to the assembled media on Saturday and was asked about his squad's preparations for the new season, transfers, the captaincy situation and plenty more. 

• Watch Liverpool's Singapore clash with Leicester City live and on demand on LFCTV and LFCTV GO on Sunday

Read on for a full transcript of the media briefing, in addition to the latest fitness news...

On who will be captain for tomorrow's game...

That has nothing to do with the general captaincy. Virgil will start the game tomorrow, if nothing happens in training, Virgil will [be] captain of the team tomorrow. I know already my decision but the general thing is I have to tell it first to the players before I speak in public about it. But it was like this, I didn't expect to have that situation a few weeks ago that I have to think about it. So, that's it pretty much. But in general the games so far, I didn't think before the games about that. In half-time we have easy rules there. Virg was number three last year, so that's why he wears it when he starts. And in the second half, after that it is who is longest in the club and I think it was most of the time Joe Gomez, if I'm right. So, that's it.

It's an important decision – [an] even more important decision is the general leadership group. Yes, it's a big change for us, big characters left the club this summer but that's how it is. Things have to change at one point, it's always clear. You cannot keep things going just because you don't want to have any kind of changes or development or whatever. Now we have it and now we will have to use it. That's exactly the plan. I'm really positive about that. I can see a lot of positive signs in training, in the games as well – mostly in training, we train much more often than we play obviously. So, the boys understand the situation and I'm really happy about that. 

On returning to Singapore...

It's really top. You only really know properly about the size of the club when you come to this part of the world. When you feel the love of the people here, it's absolutely exceptional, it is exceptional. That's why we really love coming here. The big difference between this year and last year is that we had our training camp already in Germany, which is super-important. Last year we couldn't plan it differently because we didn't know that we will play that long [in] the season before and all these kind of things. So we started pretty much in Asia and, for the people here it's the same importance, but for us it was the worst possible moment, let me say it like that, because you spoke about the humidity and that's obviously really tricky for us. We play in England and the weather couldn't be more different, to be honest, so that's really tough and we still have to go through all the paces. We couldn't do that here, had to do it later, had then already brought the injuries back home and stuff like this. It was not cool.

Anyway, we came back because we enjoy it here. That's the truth as well. We have two top-class games. Tonight obviously [we have] a training session, which is an important session for us. We will do a completely normal tactical session tonight in front of, I don't know, 20,000 people around about, so that will be strange. I hope the people will not be constantly screaming because I need to find a microphone or something else because I have to talk to the players during the session. But it's great and it's exactly what you want when you play for a club like Liverpool. You travel and show your face wherever our supporters are. We cannot do that constantly but as often as we can we have to do it and that's why we are in Asia. Great.

On whether he was 'surprised Jordan Henderson wanted to move on' and if he 'tried to convince him to stay'...

It's not about that. The relationship between Hendo and me grows over nearly eight years and it's not about that. Hendo knew exactly the situation – that we want to keep him but if he wants to leave, there's no reason why we should throw any rocks or stones in the way and stuff like this. It was full of respect and full of everything you need in a situation like that. But it was not about me convincing him, it was about me reacting on what was happening – what I did and that's how I understood the role in that moment. I think the video the boys made for him, if you see that, if you hear that then you know everything about the man. I think everybody would wish that if you leave somewhere then your friends would speak like that of you and that was really impressive, I have to say. So, it's all good. He's not here anymore. I said it as well, he will miss us, we will miss him. But we have to go on and we will – that's clear. That's pretty much everything. 

On Fabinho's future...

That's not done yet. He's not here and that obviously shows things are ongoing, but as far as I know it is not finalised and that means I will not really speak about it. We all have to get used to these kind of things now, timings are not exactly like we are used to it in the moment – or so far – so it's better you wait until things have happened before you speak about it.

On further strengthening the midfield area...

We know we have to do something there, that's absolutely clear. We are working on solutions, but I think everybody can imagine that.

On the make-up of Liverpool's senior players' leadership group following the departures of Henderson and James Milner...

I will decide, yeah. I think it is a logical group and there's no need for any kind of vote. It's a logical group and these boys have to step up. They were already there before; it's not just that the team was led by Millie and Hendo. They were important characters, absolutely, but without the others it wouldn't have worked out. There is just now two missing and that's all, pretty much. Nobody has to be the next James Milner, nobody has to be the next Jordan Henderson. They all can be themselves and that gives us a real chance for a new and fresh development. That's exactly what you need. It's always [the case] when you have big changes: first people want changes, then you have the changes and then everybody is worrying about the changes. The problem with changes is you never know beforehand if it will work out, but we are really optimistic about it. That's the nature of change, by the way. We are really optimistic about it and excited as well. 

My main impression I get so far in our sessions [is] the boys are really up for it and they really mean business. I like it a lot when we have games and are playing them, but [we have] slightly tired legs and then conceding a couple of goals, it's all logical. We speak about that every pre-season. That's the work we have to do; the physical part is not done yet, of course not, but the main part of that is over. We are much more now in the tactical and technical things. Now we have to see tomorrow night for that game and then we have another few days and then we play Bayern, which is another really important one. So far, so good but we have to keep going.

On whether he senses the players have 'added motivation' to show a reaction after a disappointing season...

It would mean that last year when we came back they were not motivated but that's not the case. We were. But, yes, we knew last season that whatever we can reach, that's what we wanted to reach – and that's what we did. In the end we didn't make it to the Champions League. It was close enough from the position we came from. We ended up fifth, it's not fantastic but it's the best of the rest if you want, so in a really bad season from our side we came fifth – that is kind of information as well. Now a lot of changes, but again, it's not only that the new players come into the team – they are obviously in and are real quality – but it always gives opportunity as well to other players to just make the next step if the guy on the position is not there anymore. How we finished games, it was always James Milner came on, stuff like that, and finished the game pretty much for us in a super-professional way. In the end – the last few weeks and months – maybe he finished more of the games off. We have players for that role, younger players, and it just opens doors and that's what we need. Yes, we as a group want to put things right. 

That doesn't mean everybody now has to be afraid of us because obviously other teams around us finished the season better than us last year and didn't stop trying to improve their squads, their teams. They will not stop, none of them will stop – they all want to make the next step. Arsenal want to make the next step, United want to make the next step, Newcastle want to make the next step, City will be there again and Brighton were on fire and will be on fire. It will be a super-interesting league, [so] we just have to make sure we are as good, as prepared as somehow possible and that's what we are trying now. And then developing as a club [with] a very positive and faithful, trustful, whatever you want to say, mood and go for it and let's see what we can get. That's what football is and that's what we want to try. One [piece of] information that we have is that last year was not good enough and that's not good, but it's helpful for the next season and we try to use that as well.

On whether Trent Alexander-Arnold could be used in the No.6 midfield role for the games ahead…

Trent can play the position. I know after we put him in this kind of flexible role – right-back, midfield position – last year everybody told us that he should play now completely in midfield, without really explaining why, to be honest. But that's not the job obviously of you to explain why, just ask for it. That's fine. So, on the position six it's a completely different position than he played last season or he played for England because it's a holding position, you have to organise much more, you have to know who is in your back, two centre-halves but not another midfielder, stuff like this. We really thought it's a very good and important thing to do in this pre-season. We will now try even when we are pretty short on the position in the moment, No.6, we still want to try it with Trent on right-back again. That was always clear, that we will use the pre-season for that as well. Then we will see how we can start the season. The start is the start and then all the rest is the rest of the season. There are different things for us to do and consider, but yes Trent can play the position. It depends who is to the left and the right of him, how we defend as a group much more important. If we do that well, if we defend with all the other midfielders plus the three up front plus the last line really well, probably at times I can play the six because then there is not much to do anymore! Too often we leave too much work for the six and that was in other moments a little bit the problem, so that's why it's a general task for us to work on and that's what we are doing. Yeah, then we will see who plays where.