Van Dijk backing ruthless Klopp’s rotation of Reds
Liverpool boss is already managing players with eye on long season
VIRGIL VAN DIJK has insisted Liverpool’s players can cope with manager Jurgen Klopp’s ruthless squad rotation, admitting the only alternative would be to leave the club.
Klopp has made a number of changes throughout Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season, which, even though the winning run came to an end on Saturday, was extended to seven Premier League games with a draw at Chelsea.
Daniel Sturridge underlined the strength in depth Klopp now has by scoring a spectacular late equaliser, which cancelled out Eden Hazard’s opener, against his former club.
The striker had been sent on in place of James Milner after Klopp had made two other brave changes by replacing captain Jordan Henderson with Naby Keita, and sending on Xherdan Shaqiri to take over from last season’s star Mohamed Salah.
Shaqiri had, the previous week, been taken off at half-time after helping Liverpool into a 3-0 lead against Southampton.
Managing his squad and the number of options he has may prove to be Klopp’s biggest challenge in attempting to overthrow champions Manchester City this season.
But central defender Van Dijk insists Klopp will not be met with any opposition from his players, who understand that they can no longer expect to start every game.
“You have to (understand), otherwise you better leave,” insisted the Dutchman.
“We all want one thing, we all want to be successful, everyone, and we need everyone’s help. It’s a long season with a lot of games, we need everyone and everyone knows that as well, and that’s a big strength for us.”
Salah has scored three goals this season, but has not yet recaptured the form of last term when he was voted PFA Player of the Year, and suffered a difficult evening at Stamford Bridge, where he miscued a couple of attempts.
But Klopp has warned that anyone who attempts to write off Salah will end up looking stupid, even though he intends to talk to the Egyptian about his form.
Asked if Salah is happy with his performances, Klopp said: “Of course not. How could he? Of course not. Now, that is what you have a manager for. We will have a talk about it.
“It is easy for me because I do not read what you write, but the boys do a little bit more. You will now do like a doctor, dissect. A big nice cut and, wow, you will find pretty much nothing. Then it will be good at the end, whatever you write you will say sorry afterwards.”
However, Salah blazed one opportunity over, took another far too wide
and then overhit a pass when Roberto Firmino was in a promising position.
“I know people will make a fuss of it,” added Klopp. “It was not Mo’s best game of his career 100 per cent. But he constantly gets into situations and that makes him a world-class player. He wants to be decisive.
“It’s like (riding) a bike. It’s not that you wake up in the morning and can’t finish anymore. You just have to work for the moments until it is clicking. That’s where he is at the moment.”
Van Dijk backed up his manager’s words, insisting Salah is proving in
training that he will soon get back to his best.
“He’s still the same Mo and he needs a bit of luck as well. I’m not worried at all and he should not be worried
either,” said Van Dijk.
“We do it all together, we’ll always be there for him and he’ll deliver as well. He had a tough game, but it’s part of football.
“We are seven games in, the season is very long, he’s working hard and is doing it in training.”
Having netted twice against Chelsea in a week, Sturridge has put pressure on Klopp to start with him against Napoli in the Champions League and is pushing for a recall to the England squad.
Gareth Southgate names his latest squad on Thursday and, on whether or not Sturridge is good enough to play for England again, Van Dijk said: “Of course, come on. I don’t think there should be any doubt. But it’s all about the manager, he makes the choices.
“I know what he’s capable of, how good he can be and when he’s at his best by playing against him and seeing him in training, with the hard work that he puts in and the positivity that he brings as well.”
Klopp’s only doubt surrounding Sturridge seems to be over whether he can keep going for an entire game. “That is the target,” he said.
“He played fantastic against PSG. Against PSG, that role exactly. High intensity.
“He played for 60 or 70 minutes, but certainly a long time. And he could have played longer.
“That must always be the target, to play high intensity over 95 minutes. We have not tried it yet.”
(© Daily Telegraph, London)