CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND, EUROPE AND THE WORLD... NOW WE MUST GET BETTER!

But Klopp will focus on improving his players, not spending big

JURGEN KLOPP knows his players will not have long to indulge in their title triumph before the questions about his side start coming.

In fact, as Liverpool finally raised the Premier League trophy aloft with a joyous flourish, he began to answer them himself, even before a night which entered the annuls of Anfield history was over.

The question is simple of course: What next? The Reds are currently English, European and World champions, and have won four glittering prizes in 14 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 victory this month – in beating 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 boss 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.

“Look, last year we had 97 points, this year already 96, 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. So I am completely fine so far.”

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 though, is quick to turn that question back on his rivals at the top, in a time of so much uncertainty.

He said: “Covid has changed the situation – for all business in the world, not just football. Other teams, if they invest then maybe they know more about the future.

“But we can not 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. And you saw what happened.”

There will be no signings to match those historychanging acquisitions of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, and none even to match the £100million spent on their classy forward line, but there will be progress, Klopp is certain of that. He believes that if their rivals do go big in the market, he will have to go hard in the development of his players. There is real room for improvement, he said.

Klopp has already identified two areas where they can strengthen. They are players like Naby Keita and even Alex Oxladechamberlain, whose growth has been curtailed because of injuries, and his emerging young stars.

“The others will not sleep. We know that,” he added. “But I know we will not stop. We have challenges, eternal challenges.

“We can improve on this season, each player. Every player I believe can challenge themselves to be better.

“You look at things like, Keita pretty much played only the last part of the season, and how he played. So he has a big chance to make another step.”

Curtis Jones, 19, (left) who has just been given the No.17 shirt once worn by Steven Gerrard, can step up. Neco Williams, also 19, too, and perhaps Harvey Elliott, 17.

“Jones is a good example,” said Klopp.

“Each player can improve. So we will go again next season – and we will fight, we will be ready.”