Klopp open to Liverpool signings in January
Benitez aiming to achieve second Newcastle ‘miracle’
LONDON, Dec 24, (Agencies): Liverpool will be open to signing players in the January transfer window should they need reinforcements to aid their Premier League title challenge, manager Juergen Klopp said on Monday.
Klopp’s side has suffered a number of casualties in recent weeks, with defenders Joel Matip and Joe Gomez ruled out until mid-January with injuries.
While full back Trent AlexanderArnold and midfielder Naby Keita to extend their lead to four points after rivals Manchester City suffered a shock 3-2 defeat by Crystal Palace.
Klopp has urged his players to maintain their focus when they host Newcastle at Anfield on Boxing Day, with potentially season-defining games against Arsenal and Manchester City on the horizon.
“The most important thing for us is (the reaction) after you win the last game – that is why the Wolves game was such a big challenge (after win against Manchester United),” he added.
“So I was really happy with our attitude. That is what we need – to stay angry, greedy and in the job. That is what we have to do against Newcastle.” Klopp expects former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to receive a warm welcome when he returns to Anfield for the fifth time as a visiting team manager.
Benitez, who won the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool, have endured a difficult season with Newcastle, who are 15th in the league and five points clear of the bottom three.
“I think the supporters of this club are famous not to forget people who did an outstanding job here,” said Klopp.
“I heard that nobody was really happy with the amount of money they (Newcastle) had to sign players.
“Rafa is too experienced to carry that for a full season, those emotions. They are really settled and in a good moment results wise. It is always difficult to play against them.”
Benitez believes he will achieve a second miracle in successive campaigns if he manages to avoid Premier League relegation with Newcastle again.
“We have to be
realistic and Everton’s Kurt Zouma (left), and Tottenham’s Harry Kane vie for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Tottenham at Goodison Park Stadium in Liverpool, England on Dec 23. (AP) understand we will be in the bottom half for the season,” the club’s Spanish coach said as he prepared for Wednesday’s visit to his former team Liverpool, the league leader. “If we can be better than three teams, it will be another miracle.” Newcastle failed to win for 10 matches at the beginning of the season but better form since then has lifted the club to 15th position, five points above the drop zone.
Benitez, who has also previously coached Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Valencia and Napoli, said Newcastle were finding it tough to keep up with their rivals because of a lack of investment in players.
“It was a miracle last season,” he added. “People were thinking, ‘Oh, you finished 10th...’, but with a couple of fewer wins, we could have been in the bottom five, so it was a miracle.” “The team is trying a lot of things, but still it’s not enough sometimes to get the points, and it will be like that,” Benitez said. “I’m trying to tell everyone, realize where we are, realize what we have to do and if we do well, fine, we can finish 10th or whatever.
“But if we think we have to beat these teams which have spent 100 million pounds ($126m), every one of them, during the summer, if we think we can beat them easily every game, no chance. We are wrong, 100 percent.”