KLOPP’S LOV-ING FEELING
Kop boss is quick to defend backline
JURGEN KLOPP says Liverpool’s rivals would love to have his defenders at their disposal.
The Kop chief ’s backline has been criticised for some error-strewn performances this season.
The Reds dominated their Champions League tie against Sevilla on Wednesday, only to draw 2-2 after conceding two soft goals.
Liverpool have also leaked eight goals in four Premier League matches this season, although five of those came in last weekend’s thrashing at Manchester City.
But Klopp said: “You really should try, one time, to go out there and ask other clubs what they think about these defenders and whether they would like to ® pick them. You would be really surprised.
“I’d give the players the advice: Don’t read anything! Things like this happen and it’s all about reacting to it.
“Sometimes we make mistakes because we are offensively that strong.
Fingers
“If we lose the ball in the wrong moment, it is the most difficult thing to do, to defend these situations. It is not like I like it, but I still work on it.
“It is not like I can fix it with a click of my fingers.”
Klopp refused to criticise Dejan Lovren for a glaring gaffe which allowed Sevilla to open the scoring at Anfield.
Liverpool failed to sign their No.1 defensive target in the last transfer window as Southampton refused to sell Virgil van Dijk. But Klopp believes that even if the Merseysiders had been able to bring in another top-class centre-back, there is not guarantee they would not make a similar error.
He said: “What if the new player doesn’t hit the first ball and he make exactly the same mistake? A mistake they all made in their life – but it is like, ‘He is a £65m signing, he will improve’.
“A big part of football and life is putting faith in the people you work with – trust them – because they all can improve. They all can.”
Meanwhile, Adam Lallana could be back from a thigh injury by mid-October.
Klopp, whose side host Burnley today, added: “It looks like another four weeks. I am not sure if he can play or normal training, but it looks all on the right way.”