I feel fine with my Fab Four

KLOPP’S CASE FOR DEFENCE .. EVEN WITHOUT VAN DIJK

JURGEN KLOPP is ready to put his trust in his current centre-backs to provide the backbone in a title-challenging team.

The Reds have so far been frustrated in their attempts to sign £60million-rated central defender Virgil van Dijk, who has been training on his own since informing Southampton of his desire to move to Anfield.

Liverpool, who completed their pre-season schedule with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, remain ready to shatter their transfer record for the Dutchman if Saints’ stance changes, but they don’t have an alternative target lined up.

Coach Klopp says improving on what he has already got is not easy – and he is prepared to persist with Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez providing back up for his first-choice centreback pairing of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip. “We have four centre-backs. I don’t think we need more,” Klopp said.

“Just at the moment I’m fine. The transfer market is open until the August 31.

“We cannot force things and we would never get a centre-back just because someone is available.

“Look out there and tell me five that would make us stronger. Then you win a prize! It’s difficult.

“I’m happy. You can imagine we still work on different things and we will see if it works.

“I am here to work with this squad and not just always thinking, ‘But if we don’t get this or this’.”

Liverpool may have only made three signings so far this summer – Dominic Solanke from Chelsea, Mohamed Salah for £34m from Roma and Scotland full-back Andy Robertson from relegated Hull.

But Klopp is adamant that the improvement in fringe players like Alberto Moreno and young midfielder Ryan Kent has further strengthened his hand ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener at Watford. “I’m really fine with pre-season so far,” added the German. “There was all this talking about signings and then Alberto Moreno – what a pre-season he’s had. He has matured 100 per cent.

“Ryan’s looked unbelievable, really strong. Dom Solanke, maybe a few guys expected that, maybe not. That’s cool and I cannot ignore it. I don’t want to ignore it.”

With new boy Salah proving an instant hit with his performance on the wing, and striker Sadio Mane back firing after injury, Liverpool have looked potent in attack. However, they continue to struggle at times defensively. They conceded another soft goal against Athletic but Klopp believes that was down to mental fatigue. “I don’t see it as a concern,” he said. “We made some bad passes, but we reacted very well.

“Would I prefer that we don’t have the issue any more? Probably yes, but that’s the thing we have to work on now.

“The rest is fluent, it looks good, the movements are good.”