Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted that the players who are only interested in Champions League football are free to leave the team.

Liverpool's hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top-four took a massive hit when they lost 1-0 to Chelsea at home on Thursday. This was, in fact, their fifth consecutive home defeat; the first time they have lost these many games in succession in the club's history. The Reds sit 7th in the league standings with 43 points after 27 games and are four points away from the fourth-placed Chelsea.

Liverpool's form in the league took a hit since their 1-0 defeat against Brighton at home on February 4. Since then, Klopp's men have lost four of their last five games, losing to Manchester City, Leicester City, Everton, and Chelsea. Liverpool are in dire need of switching the gear as they risk losing out on the Champions League spot.

For Klopp, though, he remains confident that his players would indeed remain loyal to the club if they finish outside top-four. At the same time, however, he said that those here only to play the UEFA Champions League can leave whenever they want.

"[Loyalty from players] is not something we have to worry about," he told a news conference ahead of Sunday's home clash against Fulham.

"I know that we have the loyalty of the players, and it's not a situation where a player of this squad says next year we don't play Champions League, so we have to leave. That will not happen, I know them enough to know that and it will not be an issue with new players.

"We said it earlier, years back, if a player doesn't want to come to us because we don't play in the Champions League next year, I don't want him.

"If a player wants to leave us because we don't play Champions League, I don't want him. It's not a personal thing, but you always need to find the right squad for the challenges you face, and then you go for it. It's nothing that I worry about."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that finishing within the top-four in the Premier League would be a massive achievement, as the Reds gear up to face Sheffield United on Sunday (Monday, 12:45 AM per IST), February 28.

The Reds are without a Premier League win in their last four outings, losing to Brighton, Manchester City, Leicester City and Everton, which has let them slip to sixth place in the league tally, five points behind fourth-placed West Ham United. Up next for them is a rather easy game against Sheffield United, the list of fixtures that follows is enticing. They face Chelsea on Thursday, March 5, followed by the Champions League round-of-16 second-leg tie against RB Leipzig then Wolves on March 16 and Arsenal on April 3.

So it didn't come as a surprise when Klopp was asked about what it would mean for Liverpool to finish within the Champions League spots. He simply said, "Big. So the game we played against Leicester, we lost but the performance we showed on that day, that's a game usually where only one team wins. We played against West Ham and I think they're in front of us as well but it's all about results.

"The table doesn't lie, never. We know that performance-wise we are not that far away but results-wise we are, so that's what we have to change. For all the different reasons that it was a difficult season so far for us, we've always tried to sort it.

"But while we try to solve one problem, another one occurs and that's how it is. That's in a season where it's not going perfect which is the case for us for sure. It then means that other clubs with big potential, City, United, Leicester, Chelsea, West Ham who are in and around us. Tottenham have similar problems to the ones we have maybe and Arsenal as well so there is a distance to go for us.

"We don't have to think about that really, we have to think about Sheffield United. If we can do that then we are maybe a step closer or not. Chelsea is coming as well which will be a proper game so if we do it [finish in the top four] in the end, it would be big."

Liverpool have been hit by a massive injury crisis and to rub salt on their wounds, their skipper, Jordan Henderson has been ruled out until April after picking a groin injury against Everton. The captain joins the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Fabinho on the treatment table. This understandably raised a question of a potential rebuild which Klopp easily snubbed.

"I don't think it's time for a massive rebuild," he added. "The squad of this year didn't have the chance to play together so I think it would make sense to look at that as well.

"On top of that, little readjustments will happen, so reacting to the situation but planning at the same time for the future. I'm not sure we can do that in the summer, to be honest, but that's what we'll try."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool succumbed to their third consecutive league defeat on Saturday, February 13, after Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City inflicted a 3-1 loss over the Reds. Overall, Jurgen Klopp's team has won just three matches in the previous 12 matches in all competitions.

Speaking after the game, Liverpool manager conceded that the title race is well and truly over given that the Reds are now 13 points adrift of leaders Manchester City. "Yes. I can't believe, but yes," said a despairing Klopp.

Klopp is actually broken. This is so sad to see. pic.twitter.com/ZTZtM78nW3

�?Nasir (@LFCNxsir) February 13, 2021

"I don't think we can close the gap this year, to be honest. We have to win football games, and a large part of our game today was very good. What we need to try to avoid are mistakes and misunderstandings."

Liverpool had broken the deadlock against the Foxes at King Power Stadium through Mohamed Salah. Rodgers' men, however, bounced to claim a 3-1 victory, with James Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes getting on the scoresheet.

Klopp has been asked about Liverpool's title defence so many times in the past, but the German had always looked confident while responding. On Saturday though, the 53-year-old looked heartbroken and seemed like he was about to burst into tears. The German manager has gone through a lot of personal grief in the week, and the fans and the experts have called in for empathy during this difficult period for the mindful tactician.

The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United has always pushed both clubs to do better and I enjoy it but right now they have a manager who cannot even attend his own mother’s funeral. Jurgen Klopp deserves nothing but compassion and genuinely hope the man is okay.

�?Anne-Marie Dray (@Anna__Dray) February 14, 2021

I refuse to believe there’s a single Liverpool fan with a brain cell who thinks Jurgen Klopp is anything other than imperative to Liverpool Football Club.

�?Adam Rowe (@adamrowecomedy) February 13, 2021

It was sad watching Jurgen Klopp today. Losing your mum and not being allowed to travel to pay your last respects is heartbreaking (same happened to a good friend of mine due to covid) And then having to keep working at this level of intensity. He needs one of his big bear hugs.

�?Reshmin Chowdhury (@ReshminTV) February 13, 2021

Will go to War to defend the honor of Jurgen Klopp.

No Klopp slander will be tolerated .

Period.

�?Siffat Salah (@centeristynwa) February 13, 2021

Juügen Klopp couldn’t see his mum when she was sick, he couldn’t attend her funeral. He should be allowed to take time off now, he needs it. He’s mourning. At the least, he shouldn’t be doing press conferences or post match interviews. Give him a break. it’s only football @LFC

�?asifkapadia (@asifkapadia) February 13, 2021

Jürgen Klopp is without doubt the best thing that has happened to Liverpool in recent history. I wouldn’t swap anyone in the world for him. It is heartbreaking seeing what he is going through. Sending love, strength and one of his big hugs to him. Family is everything. ❤️

�?Paul Dalglish (@DalglishPaul) February 13, 2021

Klopp’s brought so much joy and excitement to English football with his passion, energy and the excellence of his #lfc teams. His champions are vulnerable, the title is gone. His mother’s just passed away. Klopp’s allowed to be emotional. He deserves some slack and some respect.

�?Henry Winter (@henrywinter) February 13, 2021

If you're a Liverpool fan questioning whether Jurgen Klopp is still the right manager, sort your head out! Losing isn't fun but if you can't see what that man has done for the club... Criticise his decisions, be emotional in defeat, but have some perspective, please! #LFC

�?Emma Sanders (@em_sandy) February 13, 2021

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended his players ahead of the crucial FA Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford by saying that they have not changed overnight, and that sometimes, a low point can really help a team in putting things into perspective.

Liverpool's unbeaten record at Anfield since 2017 was finally put to rest by Burnley on Friday as the Clarets inflicted a 1-0 defeat in what was a rather deficient performance from the Reds. It was also Liverpool's fourth consecutive Premier League game where they failed to find the net.

Many questioned Klopp's decision of resting Mohamed Salah, who was brought in after the hour's mark, but it was an understandable approach as Liverpool face Manchester United for the second time in eight days. Speaking ahead of the FA Cup tie, Klopp said that he hopes his team can bounce back from this drought.

"We lost that game, and it was a really low point. It's not that I thought, 'Who cares?'," he said.

"When I think back, I can't find a reason why we lost that game, but we lost it. It happened and sometimes you need a really low point to change things properly and that's for sure [what] we will go for now.

• Why Liverpool must move on from Roberto Firmino

"If we would have won in a bad game the world would have said, 'OK, it's not the football they usually play but they are back on the result path', but in the long term it would not help.

"It can be a real help if we use it. I can imagine what a lot of people think about us in the moment.

"But people don't change overnight. People sometimes face challenges they are not immediately ready for and sometimes you don't even know a challenge will come up.

"But this is a challenge we didn't want to have. Was it absolutely impossible it could happen? No, especially in the situation we are.

"They [the players] are still brilliant people and brilliant characters, all of them.

"All of them made happen what happened in the last few years and they don't change overnight. It is still a really good group."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Peter Powell

The January transfer window is starting to keep up the pace as we enter the second week of its operation. Europe’s best are eager to bolster their strengths, given the return of cup competitions, and we dig into the latest happenings in the English Premier League.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah to join Bayern Leverkusen

Manchester United’s Timothy Fosu-Mensah is currently in advanced talks to join Bundesliga side Bayern Leverkusen in a £1.5million deal. The Netherlands player, out of contract at the end of the season, has made only three starts for United in nearly four years and has rejected an offer of a three-year deal to find more first-team opportunities elsewhere. Fosu-Mensah wished to return to AFC Ajax, but that looks unlikely.

Bayer Leverkusen are in advanced talks to sign Timothy Fosu-Mensah from Man Utd, as per @samuelluckhurst. There are ‘positive feelings�?to complete the deal soon, personal terms have been agreed - there are still some details to be sorted between the two clubs. #mufc

�?Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 11, 2021

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently confirmed that two-three players would be leaving the club. When asked about the 23-year-old, he stated, “It’s difficult when you have good players, talented players, and you can’t give them game-time. He’s now at the stage where he needs to go and play again. It might be the end of January, or in the summer where he finds somewhere else, he’s working hard, so he’s ready for a move for any club he feels ready for."

The other players Solskjaer has hinted out are Argentine duo Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo. Both players are out of contracts and are looking for a club to buy them. Odion Ighalo, on loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, is expected to leave Old Trafford at the end of January.

Eddie Nketiah not leaving Arsenal this month 

Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, confirmed in a press conference that Eddie Nketiah will not leave the club in January. The youngster was linked with a move to West Ham, who are on the hunt for a replacement as Sebastien Haller left the Hammers for Ajax. The 21-year-old, and French forward Alexandre Lacazette, are in the last months of their contracts and are awaiting fresh terms.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce are still pushing for a Mesut Ozil deal. When asked about the player’s future, Arteta said he is still waiting for the right solution. “There’s no update. We still have to try to find the right solution for the player and the club.�?he quoted.

In other news, Rob Holding is set to sign a new contract with Arsenal. Matteo Guendouzi, on loan at Hertha Berlin, seems unlikely to make the deal permanent and could return to north London this month. On the flip side, Genoa has confirmed their intent to sign Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Stuttgart winger Nicolas Gonzalez entrancing Tottenham

The Athletic has reported a deal for VfB Stuttgart’s Nicolas Gonzalez to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur. The Argentinian forward has also caught Juventus and Leeds United’s attention, but Gonzalez is seemingly on course to sign up for Jose Mourinho’s Lilywhites.

 

The 22-year-old has recently signed an extension to his contract that keeps him at the club until 2024, but Stuttgart seeks around �?7 million for him to depart. The winger has been in fine form, scoring for both club and country in the past few games, and is likely to see his market value skyrocket if he continues to perform in this manner.

Nuno Mendes continues to be linked with Liverpool 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp suggested earlier that the Premier League champions would have a relatively quiet transfer window, despite their ongoing defensive dilemma.

On the rumored £60m bid for RB Leipzig center-back Dayot Upamecano, Klopp asserted that the club couldn’t pay such an amount for a player in the winter transfer window.

Reports strongly suggest that the Reds have submitted a higher bid for Nuno Mendes after Sporting CP have rejected an initial �?/span>25 million offer for the 18-year-old. Georginio Wijnaldum’s future hangs in the balance after he rejected an offer by Liverpool. The club faithful is eager to see a positive development in the contract talks with the Dutch international.

Feature Image courtesy: AFP / ANDREAS GEBERT

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho took another dig at the Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, saying that he is undeserving of the FIFA Best Men's Coach award.

Mourinho's comments come days after his infamous quote of 'the best team lost' after his Tottenham side left the Anfield with a 2-1 defeat. The former Manchester United and Chelsea manager was asked about his thoughts on Klopp's award, and he said the Bayern Munich manager, Hans-Dieter Flick, should have gotten the recognition instead.

"I think the only chance for Flick to win is if Bayern find two or three new competitions for him to win," the Spurs boss said, per Daily Mail.

"So maybe if he wins seven titles in one season, maybe he wins the award.

"I believe he only won Champions League, the Bundesliga, German Cup, European Super Cup and German Super Cup.

"He only won five, including the biggest one of all. Poor Flick. I think the only chance is for Bayern to find two or three more trophies to see if he can win it."

In all fairness, Flick rightly deserved to be named the FIFA Best Men's Coach of the year as he literally won more trophies (five) than the games his Bayer side lost (three). Klopp, on his part, was left amused too. "I don't know why people voted for me," the Liverpool manager said. "Flick deserved it for his titles."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Kirsty Wigglesworth, Jon Super

The Etihad Stadium will play host to the first of the two marquee matchups between Manchester City and reigning champions Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Merseysiders sit second in the league table with 16 points while City continue to languish at 12th with just 11 points in their opening seven matches.

Guardiola and his men have had a torrid start to their domestic league campaign, dropping 10 points in 11 matches. In their two Premier League winning campaigns with Guardiola, City dropped just 14 and 16 points in 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively, putting into perspective just how uncharacteristic this start to their season is. 

That is what makes Sunday’s fixture must-not-lose for Guardiola's side. A loss will see them fall eight points behind Liverpool and given that the reigning champions have recorded 99 and 97 points in the past two campaigns, it could already be a gap too big for City to bridge.

While the season is still nascent and a defeat won’t really be the end of the world for City, it definitely would feel like it, especially considering that Liverpool will be without their lynchpin Virgil Van Dijk, who will miss the remainder of the season through injury and defensive midfielder Fabinho, who is still sidelined with an injury he picked up in his side's 2-0 win against Midtjylland. 

Questions remain over the availability of centre-back Joel Matip and midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who also have injuries of their own.

All in all, Liverpool come into this contest short-handed but such is the case for City as well, who could have to play this match without a recognised centre-forward as both, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus remaining a doubt for the fixture. But on balance, it is Liverpool who will enter this contest with the larger personnel disadvantage, meaning City and Guardiola would have absolutely no excuse if they go on to lose this contest. 

The last fixture in June ended in a 4-0 victory for Manchester City and Guardiola will certainly not be expecting a similar result, but he expect his side to win and cut the gap between the two sides to just a couple of points. 

A victory on Sunday could be what kickstarts City's Premier League title bid but a loss could deal a serious psychological blow to Guardiola and his men.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dave Thompson

For the first time since 1953, reigning English top-flight champions - Liverpool in this case - conceded seven goals in a single game as Dean Smith's Astin Villa hammered the Reds 7-2 to continue their flying start of the 2020/21 Premier League campaign. Earlier on Sunday, a helpless Manchester United were bashed 6-1 by Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur in what was the Portuguese second visit to Old Trafford since leaving the Red Devils last year.

There were several things to take note of from these two games. For instance, Liverpool conceded seven goals in a game for the first time since April 1963. And well, it was in the first time in the history of the competition that both United and Liverpool conceded six goals in a match on the same day.

For United, they did start the game well, with midfielder Bruno Fernandes converting from the spot in as early as the second minute. The lead, however, didn't last long as Tottenham went 2-1 inside seven minutes. Striker Anthony Martial was shown a straight red two minutes before the half-hour mark, and Tottenham went on cornage. The likes of Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane completed a brace, while right-back Serge Aurier was on the scoresheet as well. Ironically, United conceded six goals in a single Premier League game for only the third time in their history and all came in October.

Liverpool, on the other hand, were made to look like a bunch of freshers by Aston Villa. New signing Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick in the first half and John McGinn was on target to make it 4-1 mid-way through the game. Mohamed Salah did pull one back, but Villa didn't hold back and went on to score seven past the champions.

It was a meme fest on Twitter after the games, and this is how the fans are reacting to the results:

Liverpool couldn't allow Manchester United to dominate the headlines today. What a rivalry!

�?PRIVATE FIGURE (@privatefigure_) October 5, 2020

Manchester United & Liverpool fans tonight pic.twitter.com/5gIH6pwoR7

�?The Inbetweeners (@inbetweenervid) October 4, 2020

If someone had told me that Manchester United and Liverpool would concede a joint 13 goals in one PL day, I would have called the person crazy!

�?Ugbedeojo (@Certifiedopeboi) October 4, 2020

Liverpool saw Manchester United hold 6 and said "we r doing this together"

�?Dr Toolz (@toolzdeyforyou) October 4, 2020

Chelsea’s 04/05 title winning team conceded 15 goals in a whole campaign, Liverpool and Manchester United have conceded a combined 13 times this Sunday already, just wanted to tell you how crazy John Terry and co used to be.

�?Pys (@CFCPys) October 4, 2020

When twitter is lit with banter but you're a Manchester United or Liverpool fan pic.twitter.com/BjCD0alZ6S

�?WelBeast (@WelBeast) October 4, 2020

The Manchester United Liverpool rivalry is so intense they can’t even let us suffer a heavy loss in peace without looking to outdo us.

�?ᴬᴺᴺᴱᴹᴬᴿᴵ�?(@Anna__Dray) October 4, 2020

Teacher: what comes after 5?

Me: 6,7...

Teacher: Why did you write Manchester United and Liverpool ? pic.twitter.com/Q7jBn9tWag

�?SamAkintunde (@samkizz_elenu) October 4, 2020

Football Goals

⚽️ : Goal
⚽️⚽️ : Brace
⚽️⚽️⚽️ : Hattrick
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ : Quattrick
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ : Manchester City
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ : Manchester United
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ : Liverpool
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ : Barcelona

�?@TwitBola (@KepoBALL) October 5, 2020

Looks like Allardyce will be needed at City, United and Liverpool.

�?Richard Amofa (@RichardAmofa) October 4, 2020

We watched Man Utd earlier today and said Don’t worry Ole, you'll never walk alone.

�?Boring James Milner (@BoringMilner) October 4, 2020

Who would have thought that Klopp would be out before Solskjaer?

�?Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 4, 2020

Only Spurs can beat Man Utd 6-1 at Old Trafford and still have their result overshadowed

�?Robbie Lyle (@ItsDonRobbie) October 4, 2020

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Diogo Jota's £45m transfer to Liverpool came as a surprise for everyone. Jurgen Klopp has always been known for going for his first-choice players in the transfer market. He has never gone for any alternative options, considering the cases when he failed to pen deals down with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson. The Liverpool manager didn't go for any alternative choices, instead, he waited until he managed to sign them up.

When Klopp failed to bring Timo Werner to Anfield, the story was expected to be similar. But Chelsea had already gotten hold of the Bundesliga superstar and getting him was going to be improbable now. So, this time, he went for a compromise by signing Portuguese winger Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

• With Timo Werner snared by Chelsea, who else can Liverpool consider?

Even though he didn't get hold of Werner, Klopp did complete another high profile transfer of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich. So the move to go for Jota was a highly unprecedented one.

But even though it seemed like a compromise deal initially, Jota's arrival to Anfield now looks like a part of Klopp's long term vision to develop an understudy to Sadio Mane.

Look at what Jota brings to the table -- Speed, press, big-game potential, scoring prowess and flexibility -- and you can clearly see attributes that can be associated with Mane.

Jota is unpredictable and inconsistent too, but so was Mane when Klopp brought him to Anfield from Southampton. The Senegalese winger was 24 years old then and he had gone through a 16-match goal drought before scoring in his last eight games for Southampton. The Portuguese winger, who is 23 now, went through a drought of nine and eight matches in the previous two seasons respectively with the Wolves.

But let's not forget that he scored two hat-tricks in the last Europa League season as well. Let's not forget that during his tenure with the club based at the Molineux stadium, Jota has scored against opponents like Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United too. Smell big match potential there?

Overall, in his 129-game long career with the Wolves -- spanning over three seasons -- Jota scored a total of 44 goals and assisted 11 times. These numbers are as good as it can get for anyone who is not a specialist striker.

Jota is very much in the Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino mould -- neither a striker nor a winger, but a hybrid forward capable of playing in multiple roles and positions. Klopp primarily likes to go with the 4-3-3 formation but there are times when he switches to the 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 formations as well. We see either of Mane or Salah switching into the role of a second striker along with Firmino in the latter two formations.

So that sums up the need for flexibility in Klopp's plans. Jota, once again, fits that bill perfectly. In his career with the Wolves, Jota has mostly played either as a left-winger or as a supportive striker to Raul Jimenez on the left-hand side of the pitch. Despite that, there have been multiple occasions when he has even outscored Jimenez. That brilliance right there, even though sporadic, gives an idea about the immense potential this Portuguese international has.

Jota won't be able to break into Liverpool's first-team immediately with the likes of Mane and Salah at the peak of their abilities now. But he is young and hence, he can bide his time at Anfield. Also, there are more games packed into shorter spans in this 2020/21 season due to the time eaten up by the global pandemic, so Jota will get a fair number of chances to prove his mettle whenever either of Mane or Salah are rested.

Moreover, Jota is in the good hands of Klopp -- one that brought a player like him to the club half a decade back and completed unlocking the untapped potential in him. Mane is consistent and lethal now, and one of the most valuable assets for the club. It remains to be seen whether Klopp will be able to do the same with Jota. But if his managerial history is anything to go by, it's more than certain that he will.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Richard Heathcote

Last season finish: Champions in Premier League (32-3-3, 99 points)

Head coach: Jurgen Klopp

2019-20 PL top scorer: Sadio Mane (19 goals)

Other Trophies: UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

The tag of being the defending champions in Premier League not only gives you respect and validation but also brings an enormous amount of pressure with it. Only one team has been able to retain the title successfully in the last 11 years of the league and that is Manchester City. So it sums up how difficult the task is going to be for Liverpool this time.

However, the Reds are quite used to being under pressure as they had been without a Premier League title in the last three decades. So with the coveted title in their bag this time around, they will come into this season as a far more confident unit.

Not only the Premier League, but Jurgen Klopp's men have also won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup in the space of the last two years. Such a run of form only goes on to tell about the kind of success this team has enjoyed in the recent past and with almost the same unit at their disposal this time as well, only bigger and better things can be expected.

Issues Liverpool encountered last season

It is generally hard to point out any issue in a champion squad but Liverpool do have some areas to be concerned about. Roberto Firmino's scoring form is one of them. The Liverpool center forward began the last season quite well but his shooting boots went quiet once the season kept progressing towards the latter stages.

Their early exits from Champions League and FA Cup also showed that maybe they need to be a bit more defence-minded in high-stake matches. Although they didn't encounter any major issues in the midfield, Klopp should remember that James Milner (34) and Jordan Henderson (30) are ageing players and he needs to prepare young options as their replacements for the future.

Have Liverpool's issues been fixed?

Klopp hasn't gone for any big-budget buys this summer transfer market and that means Firmino is still in his plans, in whose abilities Klopp has firm faith in. As far as the defensive organisation is considered, their FA Community Shield loss to Arsenal only proved that Klopp is yet to alter his defensive strategy in such games where the stakes are high.

The Liverpool defence pushes forward a lot and that gives the opposition plenty of opportunities to go on the charge during counterattacks. An attacking formation does bring the best out of the two Liverpool fullbacks -- Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson -- but Klopp has to understand that it is costing the team crucial matches. On a positive note, the Reds' manager has brought a good backup option for the left-back position this time in Konstantinos Tsimikas from Olympiacos.

As far as the midfield is considered, Thiago Alcantara has been a long term target for Klopp now. Although some reports state that Alcantara has a high chance of staying with Bayern Munich this season, Klopp has clearly not given up negotiations. Moreover, we might see the likes of Neco Williams, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones getting some game time this season as they could be potential options for replacing the likes of Henderson and Milner once they are past their prime.

Predictions for 2020/21 Season

Liverpool's formidable form last season meant that they won the Premier League quite comfortably. The underperformance of the other big clubs only made the job easier for the Reds. However, the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea have built a formidable squad for this edition and Manchester United look in good shape too. So retaining the title is going to be tougher than ever for Klopp but considering the depth of their squad, they should still make it to the top three easily by the end of the season. Winning the Premier League again might be tricky but Liverpool definitely have the ammunition required to lay their hands on other major trophies like the Champions League.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis