Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are ‘underperforming’ but not ‘very loyal’ to players

Jurgen Klopp insists he is not “too loyal” to his “underperforming” senior players and says Liverpool will look to strengthen their squad in January if deals are “available and possible”.

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

His side have already lost six times in the Premier League – after losing just four times in 63 games in all competitions last season – and are 10 points adrift of the top four.

Speaking on the eve of Liverpool’s FA Cup third round replay with Wolves Klopp said Liverpool’s issues were “complex” and while acknowledging the need to strengthen could not be solved by spending in the transfer window alone – Liverpool have already spent up to £. Cody Gakpo signed 45m this January.

Liverpool’s aging midfield has come under particular scrutiny, with captain Jordan Henderson admitting to a “lack of energy” in Saturday’s defeat at Brighton.

Henderson (32) and Fabinho (29) – who have each won a club trophy during their time at Anfield – and Thiago, 31, a late arrival but still a double cup winner last season, remain the Reds’ first-choice midfield. .

Brushing off criticism he is overly reliant on the so-called old guard, Klopp said: “I’ve heard I’m very loyal but I’m not very loyal. The problem is very complicated. If you can go out and bring in another player to replace him, then it makes sense. happens

“But if you can’t bring someone in, you can’t take someone out. I’m not very loyal. Before I left, in Dortmund, I said something needs to change here – either a management change or a lot of other things need to change.

“I’ll stay here as long as I want. If someone asks me to go, I won’t go. That’s something for the future, in the summer, not now. I want to fix this situation. – That’s all.”

“It is clear that there will be an important period of change. There are injuries, but no one is interested in that. The boys feel the responsibility, but we are all getting along.”

He added: “Should we strengthen? Oh yes. But is it the right time for it? I can’t see it because we’re in the situation, I think I know how it is, and it is. I can’t change. The answer every week. Even if we lose another game after the last press conference, nothing will change.”

Klopp: We are not stubborn

Klopp also addressed questions about whether a poor run of form, compounded by injuries to Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and most recently Virgil van Dijk, will strengthen the club’s hand in the January window.

“We also look outside,” he said. “It’s not that we’re stubborn and think, we’re going to go with these guys until 2050 or whatever. That’s not how we see it, it’s about what we can do and things like that — and what you want to do. What you can do. More importantly, it’s always the same every year.

“I cannot change my answers – if the solutions are available to us and possible, we will certainly bring in players to help. But we also have an existing squad and we are underperforming, for sure, I know. I am sitting here. Can’t always blame everyone else, the players, it’s my responsibility.

“This is my job [get them to perform]. We have limited options but we have contracted players here, they are not available. But if we bring in players, we can’t get them all on the Premier League and Champions League rosters.

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

The reason for Liverpool’s struggles is a simple question with a multifaceted answer.

A number of factors have contributed to the current situation which has been the most testing Klopp has faced in his time at Anfield. The manager points to injuries: he was missing four forwards at Brighton – two long-term absentees – as well as influential centre-back Van Dijk.

Both physical and mental fatigue also played a role. Klopp finally admitted on Friday that the 63-game 2021/22 season which saw Liverpool win two cups, almost win the Premier League and Champions League and play in every game for which they qualified has affected his squad. Captain Jordan Henderson confirmed the energy and confidence of the players was low after the defeat to Brighton.

Fatigue? Low on energy? How is it possible?

However, the midfield trio that started at Brighton on the back of Liverpool’s marathon last season – Henderson (32), Thiago Alcantara (31) and Fabinho (29) – had a combined age of 92. Among the substitutes are James Milner 37, Naby Keita. And Curtis Jones has missed much of the campaign through injury while youngster Harvey Elliott is struggling in an under-performing team.

So why hasn’t Klopp refreshed his squad?

In one word: money.

Owners Fenway Sports Group found £35m-£45m to bring in PSV forward Gakpo this month, but he remains a long-range target as they look to fend off interest from other clubs. Klopp wanted Aurelian Choumaeni to bolster his midfield but the France international opted for Real Madrid in the summer.

Midfield remains an area in real need of attention and FSG are budgeting for a break-the-bank deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

What can Klopp do then?

It looks like he will have to mess around after refusing to make any more signings this window.

Forwards Firmino and Darwin Nunez will be helped by back fit but his options in midfield are to put more faith in the likes of Keita and Jones and hope they can provide freshness.

What are the short-term solutions to their common problems?

Finding a way to not be defensively vulnerable would be a start. Liverpool have conceded the first goal 21 times in their last 35 games and have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since October.

That’s another issue that can be traced back to their midfield weaknesses, but they’ve looked so open in opposition teams at the back that they’ll always have a chance. A change in formation could help but Klopp has already made small tweaks without much success.

Malfunction in Liverpool’s midfield

Sky Sports Lewis Jones:

The spotlight is now shining so brightly on Liverpool’s defense that it’s blinding those watching – however, focusing solely on those who play in the heart of the backline will allow others to escape criticism.

Yes, Joel Matip was at fault for the opening Brighton goal with a sloppy pass but up until that point, he and Ibrahim Konate had defended with great cohesion and assurance. They only had relentless pressure towards their goal from a Brighton side that was now purring.

And why were the Liverpool centre-backs so busy? Well, it stemmed from the Liverpool midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago, playing a very odd role outside of the two strikers. He didn’t like it.

Brighton duo Alexis McAllister and Moses Cacedo made the Liverpool trio look like they were considering playing in the veterans league.

The midfield is the heart of a Jurgen Klopp team – when it’s bad, as it is now, then the forward line and backline suffer. This Liverpool team is not only bad but threatening to spin out of control.