KLOPP GETS CHOPPING
JURGEN KLOPP has warned his Liverpool hitmen they will be axed if they do not hit the ground running.
Klopp has many attacking options with £39m record signing Mohamed Salah challenging Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi for three spots up front.
“If it stays like this, I would say you should perform if you want to play,” said Klopp.
“I cannot decide this. It’s the performance that decides it.
Condition
“We want to play in three or four competitions and for this we need players.”
Injury-prone England striker Sturridge, who has made just 46 league appearances in three years, has it all to prove.
Klopp said: “He’s in the best condition since I’ve been here. Okay, I came in October 2015 and Daniel, I think, was probably injured. The last pre-season was after a tournament and a short break.
“This year he has had a proper break and is in a good physical shape, absolutely.”
Mane is also on the road to recovery following knee surgery in April and will resume full training next week. The Reds are in the market for a central midfielder with Red Bull Leipzig turning down a £57m offer for Naby Keita last week.
Klopp added: “Everything is open until August 31. I am not easy to frustrate. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t. That’s how it is. I’m still relaxed.”
Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk is still on the Anfield radar and they are closing in on an £8m deal for Hull’s Scotland left-back Andy Robertson.
Liverpool finished fourth last season, but Klopp believes he is building a squad capable of winning the title.
“I think the rules are all teams are allowed to win the Premier League, right? So yes then, it seems to be possible,” he said.
“The good thing is nobody knows who will win. It’s possible for all of us. We should try to do it, it’s a nice idea but saying it today and carrying it in our backpacks doesn’t help this nice idea to come through.
“That’s why I thought: ‘Let’s look and see.’ I am really positive but in the moment we have to work, not to dream.”
Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Lucas has completed his £5m move to Lazio.