OUR ETERNAL
Every one of my players can get better says Klopp
Here’s how pundits Dave Prentice and Tom Phillips have predicted the key games in the latest footie5 round. Head to the site today to use our pundit’s picks or enter your own predictions if you fancy your chance of winning that £25,000 jackpot.
Dave
Which Leicester will turn up in this Champions League shoot-out? The one which was walloped by Spurs last time out.
Tom
I really want to see Jamie Vardy in the Champions League again. Unbelievable talent but my head is going for a strong United victory.
JURGEN KLOPP knows Liverpool do not have long to indulge in their title triumph before the questions about his side start coming.
As the Reds finally raised the Premier League trophy aloft, he even began to answer them himself.
The question is simple of course: What next? They are English, European and world champions and have won four glittering prizes in 14 crazy months. So how do they improve on that, when all the indications are they will spend little this summer?
Perhaps an even more pressing point is the fact that Manchester City’s own triumph this month – in overturning a two-year European ban for alleged breaches of FIFA Fair Play regulations – paves the way for them to resume their spending crusade which has paid such dividends.
For Klopp, there is humour in the question. “People will say, and it’s been said already about us, you have to win more titles to prove yourself. But it’s really difficult!” he said with a huge grin.
“Last year we had 97 points, this year already 96 points, so that’s…well last year we didn’t get a trophy, but for 800 years before we would have got a trophy for that.
“But because Manchester City is around it is slightly difficult.They were not there in the past when other teams were winning – not their quality.”
After the weekend, Liverpool will give their players a two or three-week break before they begin their plans for next season. The question even their own fans want answering, though, is where will they strengthen, because City could now lavish millions on a rebuild.
Klopp is quick to turn that question back on his rivals at the top, in a time of uncertainty. “Covid has changed the situation for all business, not just football,” he said. “Other teams, if they invest maybe they know more about the future.
“But we cannot buy just because other teams buy, we will go again and will not use it as an excuse. Last year, all of you would have recommended we bring in someone to close the one-point gap to City. But we didn’t [buy anyone].”
There will be no signings to match the acquisitions of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, but there will be progress, Klopp is absolutely certain of that.
If their rivals do go big in the market, he will go hard in the development of his players and has already identified two areas where they can strengthen. They are players like Naby Keita and Alex OxladeChamberlain, whose growth has been curtailed because of injuries, and his youngsters.
“The others will not sleep. We know that. But I know we will not stop,” said Klopp.
“We have challenges, eternal challenges. We can improve on this season, each player. Every player can challenge themselves to be even better.”
Curtis Jones, given the number 17 shirt once worn by Steven Gerrard, can step up. Neco Williams too, and perhaps 17-year-old Harvey Elliott.
“So we will go again next season – and we will fight, we will be ready,” Klopp said.