Jurgen Klopp already has one eye on making what he describes as “re-adjustments” for next season while trying to salvage a top-four place out of Liverpool’s current traumatic campaign.
The Merseyside club’s seemingly never-ending list of woes continued with the news that skipper Jordan Henderson has had surgery on a groin injury that will keep him out until April.
It comes on top of the sudden death of goalkeeper Alisson Becker‘s father in a swimming accident which has cast doubts whether the Brazilian No 1 will play at Sheffield United on Sunday.
A dismal run of only nine points from a possible 33 has left last season’s Premier League champions in sixth place and in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League, unless of course they win Europe’s biggest club prize for a seventh time this season.
While Klopp does not believe his squad needs a major overhaul, he is looking to tweak it after an injury-plagued season has wrecked their hopes of winning back-to-back titles.
“I don’t think it is time for a massive rebuild like how I understand it: six, seven out, running contracts but trying to get rid of them and bring in all the new faces,” he said.
“The squad of this year didn’t have the chance to play together one time really. I think it would make sense to have a look at that but on top of that of course little re-adjustments will happen.
“So we’re reacting to the situation but planning at the same time for the future. I am not sure we can do that in the summer but that is what we will try.”
Klopp’s immediate task is to end a run of four successive league defeats and guide Liverpool back into the top four, which he admits will be a huge achievement considering the competition from other clubs and with his defensive options limited further by the injury suffered by captain Henderson in last weekend’s Merseyside derby loss.
“If we were to do it in the end [finish in the top four] it would be big,” he added. “Absolutely. You can see the competitors – City, we don’t need to talk about, United, Chelsea, Leicester, West Ham are in and around us. Tottenham have had similar problems to us, Arsenal as well, so there is a distance for us to go. It is a big challenge.
“We try with all we have to sort it and while you try and sort one problem another problem occurs. That is how it is. It is about what we can bring on the pitch still. It is all about results. The table doesn’t lie. Never. That is completely fine. We know that points wise we are not that far away but results wise we are. That is what we have to change.”
Klopp remains undaunted by the job of turning round the club’s fortunes and insists that overall performances have been better than results, while admitting Liverpool have to be more clinical.
“There is no lack of motivation,” he said. “A difficult situation always fired me up rather than the other way round. It’s clear that winning game after game is nicer but maybe an important message at this time is that we are still Liverpool and that is what I love, what I know, and that of course gives me energy.
“I am not here only for the big celebrations, I am here for the work. And if it is the dirty work, the hard work, no problem. I am massively responsible for the situation we are in and a big part of it. Some parts not, we have no influence on that, but it means now I have to make good decisions, better decisions if necessary. And on the pitch we have to be more clinical, that is clear as well, and we work on that.”
Klopp refused to comment on whether Alisson will play on Sunday while suggesting Henderson may only be fit for the final few games of the season after having surgery on an abductor muscle.
But the positive news is that Diogo Jota – out for three months with a knee injury – is fit and “looking good” in training. And Fabinho, who has missed seven games, will re-join team training today, along with James Milner. Both could be involved at Bramall Lane.
Probable Liverpool team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Fabinho, Robertson; Milner, Thiago, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
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