Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said on Friday that his Premier League club is concerned regarding the increasing number of injuries in its ranks, but that this will not push him to enter the transfer market just to strengthen the squad, but only sign the “right player”.
Contrary to expectations, Liverpool drew with newly promoted Fulham in their first match in the Premier League season this weekend, while many of their key players, such as Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate and Costas Tsimikas, were injured.
“There are injuries in our squad. This is the reality. The important thing is how long the players are out,” Klopp told reporters ahead of his team’s next game once morest Crystal Palace next Monday.
The German coach added, “There are different solutions to this, one of which is the transfer market. This is useful if we can sign the right player. The right player, not any player. In some cases this is not possible and other times it is very difficult.”
Tsimikas will return to training later on Friday, while Keita is expected to return next Monday.
As for Thiago, an active midfield player, he is expected to miss between four and six weeks following injuring his hamstring muscle once morest Fulham.
“The rest of the solutions are within the squad,” Klopp said. “If we had been able to reach the appropriate solution through the transfer market, we would have done so already. We do not like stubbornness.”
In light of these injuries, young midfielder Harvey Elliott was given a chance to participate following he signed a long-term contract with the club on Thursday.
And regarding him, Klopp said, “He is a wonderful young man and an excellent player. He performed well during pre-season and is always close to starting, and of course he is in my plans.”
Klopp expressed his regret for his team’s draw with Fulham and called on the players to start strongly from the beginning once morest Palace, who lost in the first round 2-0 once morest Arsenal.
“The slow start does not mean you will do it once more, but you have to take advantage of it,” Klopp said.