'Pretty short' - Jurgen Klopp makes Liverpool transfer admission as midfield line-up hint dropped
Jurgen Klopp couldn’t resist a trademark quip. The Liverpool boss, though, knows the situation is far from light-hearted.
“If we defend with all the other midfielders, plus the three up front, plus the backline then probably at times I could play as the number six as there wouldn't be much to do!” he laughed.
“Too often we left too much work for the number six (last season) and in moments that was a problem. It's a general task for us to work on and then we will see who plays there.”
Indeed, who exactly will start the season playing in defensive midfield is a poser that has increasingly vexed Klopp in recent weeks, given the departures of Jordan Henderson and James Milner, the imminent exit of Fabinho and the lack of fitness of Stefan Bajcetic.
Jurgen Klopp explains Liverpool transfer plan after Romeo Lavia bid
Jurgen Klopp shares Stefan Bajcetic recovery timeline as Liverpool get boost
While the latter is expected to have resumed full-team training this time next week, it won’t be in time for him to be in realistic contention for the Premier League opener at Chelsea in a fortnight. And it would be some ask for any subsequent new signing – talks with Southampton over Romeo Lavia remain ongoing – to be thrown straight in at Stamford Bridge.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the favourite having started the first two friendlies in the position for Liverpool. However, he will return to right-back against Leicester City here in Singapore on Sunday with Conor Bradley, his deputy in Germany, having not travelled due to a minor injury, and opportunities running out for Klopp to experiment further with the approach that ended last season so impressively.
“It's a shame about Conor as he was doing really well,” said the Reds boss.
Read on liverpoolecho.co.uk
