Klopp ready to put trust in Reds' current crop

Owners Fenway Sports Group have made it clear there will be money available for the right deals when the transfer window opens next month.

However, Klopp is prepared to wait until next summer to bring in reinforcements as he continues to assess the talent he inherited from Brendan Rodgers.

“If your boss thinks you’re not in the best day in your life maybe he’ll get another one but that’s not how the world should run,” Klopp said.

“If we need something we will do it, not talk about it before. But in this moment I don’t think about it.

“We are prepared for any situation, we have 24 hours always at work. We always watch players on video but if we take them in winter, in summer or never, I don’t know at this moment.

“It’s much more important to work with the people here and if you trust them they have to feel it, and not just for two days but for a longer time.

“If we have problems it’s not with quality, it’s maybe with concentration or other things.

“But we don’t know if players we get will do it better. I’d give the advice to stay cool and see what happens.”

Liverpool, who arrived back at John Lennon Airport from Switzerland on Friday afternoon following their 0-0 draw with FC Sion in the Europa League, are in the midst of a gruelling run of fixtures.

Sunday’s Premier League clash with West Brom at Anfield will be their seventh game in the space of just 22 days.

With the festive schedule to come, there will be little let-up.

Liverpool will play at least seven matches in January as they look to compete for a Champions League spot and battle it out in both domestic cup competitions. The Europa League will be back on the agenda in February.

However, with the club’s injury problems easing Klopp believes they have sufficient strength in depth to cope.

Daniel Sturridge may be sidelined but Philippe Coutinho made his comeback against Sion after a hamstring issue and there was a first start since August for captain Jordan Henderson.

Klopp also confirmed that Academy graduate Jon Flanagan is closing in on a return after a nightmare 18-month battle with a knee injury.

The 22-year-old right-back hasn’t played for the Reds since May 2014 but is expected back in full training next week.

The defensive ranks will also be bolstered over the coming weeks by Mamadou Sakho, who is continuing his rehabilitation following knee ligament damage.

“I don’t feel we have to look at other people just because they cost £20million,” Klopp said.

“Flanno will come back in next week. Then we’ll have two full-backs left, two right.

“We have four centre-backs when Mama is back. Kolo was the fourth because of his age but now he’s always available.

“In midfield we have Hendo back so that’s like a new option for us.

“We didn’t use them until now. We have other offensive players and we have more strikers than others, so where is the space?

“In January I don’t know how many games we have, maybe every three days, so we have to be prepared.

“We know all the players in world football. Some fit us, some don’t, so we will see what happens.”

One bonus for Klopp has been the impact of young left-back Brad Smith since he ended his contract stand-off with the club last month and was restored to the first-team squad.

The 21-year-old Australia international impressed on his full debut against Sion.

“I read in the paper that Brad had signed a contract and I said ‘who’s this??!!’,” joked Klopp, who had held discussions with Smith at Melwood prior to the deal getting signed.

“You know it was a difficult story with him and when I first came he wasn’t here.

“I saw a few videos and in training and he’s a good boy – very fast.

“He put in a perfect cross against Sion, which on that ground wasn’t easy. He can get better in everything but he’s a good boy and I like to work with him.”

It was a dour stalemate on a frozen playing surface at the foot of the Alps. Klopp played a stronger team than many had anticipated considering they had already qualified and face Tony Pulis’ Baggies at Anfield on Sunday.

But the Reds boss insisted he had no regrets and insisted there was more than Smith’s composed performance to cling to.

“I saw a few things that were really strong,” he said.

“Divock Origi, in an awful game for a striker, did his best with the few balls we threw to him.

“I saw that Kolo was really strong. A few weeks ago he was prepared for 30 minutes and now he’s really prepared. There was Clyney with 500 games in his legs, everything was okay.

“We wanted Hendo to start. He was very positive. He could have done 90 but we took him out because of Sunday because of what could have happened in the last 10.

“Phil (Coutinho) came on and nearly injured himself controlling the ball and hitting himself in the face – now he knows how I felt my whole career!

“Of course we could have left him on the bench but it was important to give him a few minutes. If you’re always afraid of injuries, you get them for sure.

“It wasn’t the football that we all love but it’s an outdoor sport and we have to accept the circumstances. We got the result and first place.

“We could’ve started with other players and it would’ve still been strong, but of course you have to use the quality of the team as often as you can.

“The challenge for us over the months and years is to rotate but not to lose quality. You need 20/22 high quality players who are ready for it.”

The most pressing challenge facing Klopp is to find a way to break down West Brom, who are bound to defend in numbers and look to frustrate the Reds.

It’s been a similar story in the past two matches against Newcastle and Sion when Liverpool haven’t been able to come up with the answers.

“We can’t hide our quality but that’s how Sion always play in Europe – defending deep,” Klopp said.

“But Newcastle? I’ve not seen too many like that. Some others high in the table play the same way like Palace.

“We need to find solutions but we can’t find them all on the first day. Only a few teams in the world play perfect football. We have our moments and we have to use them.”

Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen and Alberto Moreno will all return to the squad on Sunday after being rested for the trip to Switzerland.

Jordon Ibe is also expected back after being sidelined by a virus.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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