Here are five key points from the manager ahead of Saturday’s return to Anfield:
5 players close to returning to action
It’s time for some positive news on the injury front. While none of Liverpool’s 10 injured players are likely to return to action against Bournemouth, Klopp revealed that a handful of players could return to training next week. The boss named Joel Matip, Curtis Jones, Thiago, Diogo Jota and Caoimhin Kelleher as players who are set to return soon. “This weekend, probably not, but then Joel, Curtis, Thiago are not far away, Diogo is coming, Caoimhin will be in training, I think, early next week as well,” Klopp said when asked about injuries. “Well, yes, positive news, but I don’t think anyone will be ready for tomorrow.”
We are “continuously working” on transfers
After weeks of insisting Liverpool would make no further signings this summer, Klopp seemed more open to a new arrival after Monday’s defeat at United, and his tone was much the same here. The Liverpool boss continues to insist that any new signing must be “the right player” but says the club are “constantly working” on potential new signings. “I don’t know, you can imagine that actually we are constantly working on things like that,” Klopp told reporters when asked about the signings on Friday afternoon. “We talked about the reasons why sometimes it doesn’t happen, sometimes too expensive, sometimes not the right player, but then the situation changed and things like that, but one thing that remains very important is that it has to be the right player. “We’re working and we’ll see if something happens or not, I don’t know.”
“We need 100% effort”
It was the manner of Liverpool’s defeat to United that was most concerning, with the body language of the players a real concern for the supporters. There was none of the grit and determination we are used to seeing from Klopp’s side and the boss admits he needs to see more effort from his players in the coming weeks. “We need to improve so we can improve the effort immediately,” he said. “It was maybe 95, but we need 100 percent. “It’s all football stuff and we have the football solutions for it. The things we achieved were never easy, so no one should expect it to be easy now. Let’s go at it together. “We have to give Ali the chance for a clean sheet which he cannot do on his own, so we have to defend better. And then attack better, everyone is responsible for everything. This beginning seems difficult but it is not impossible. “One of the ground rules we had is that everyone is responsible for everything. No one is off the hook when we defend or attack.”
“This is our town”
Klopp was also asked about the fatal shooting of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was tragically killed in Liverpool on Monday night. He acknowledged that nothing he could say would make the situation better for Olivia’s family, but said the club would do what it could to help. “Nothing I can say now would help,” he said. “Of course our thoughts and prayers are with their family. I can’t imagine how it feels, horrible. “If we can help in any way, it will be clear. “This is our city. In these moments we must realize that it is our city.”
The severity of Keita’s injury is unclear
Naby Keita was a late withdrawal from the squad that made the trip to Old Trafford on Monday after picking up an injury in training the previous day. Klopp says the club are still not sure how serious the injury is, but says the Guinean remains unavailable for now. “Naby won’t be ready for the weekend, of course not,” he said. “We’ll have to see how long it takes, exactly. It’s a muscle and it’s not 100% clear, but he won’t be available next week.”
