Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool have to be “lucky” with the availability of their centre-backs this season as he hinted he was unlikely so as to add to his choices earlier than the switch deadline.
Ibrahima Konate is a doubt for Sunday afternoon’s journey to Newcastle as a result of of a muscular drawback and Joe Gomez or Joel Matip may as a substitute companion Virgil Van Dijk on the coronary heart of the Reds’ defence.
Nat Phillips is one other different however Klopp is effectively conscious {that a} scarcity of choices and a spate of accidents may spell hassle as he needed to get artistic with his backline in the course of the 2020-2021 season.
A complete of 20 completely different mixtures had been used in the course of the turbulent marketing campaign and Klopp is retaining all the things crossed that he doesn’t should deal with a defensive disaster within the forthcoming months.
“In an excellent world, we’ve six, seven, eight centre-halves and canopy for completely all the things,” the Liverpool supervisor stated. “No, we should be lucky with accidents, there is no such thing as a doubt about that.
“I’ve little question concerning the high quality of the boys we’ve. We’ve got (academy participant) Jarell Quansah, a super-talented participant, obtainable as effectively.
“In this second we’re coated however it’s not dreamland the place you will be ready for completely every state of affairs. We needed to be taught that previously as effectively a pair of instances.
“We are going to attempt to do our very best to have a squad for subsequent week, a squad for us the place we are able to react on just about all the things. Is that potential? We are going to see.”
Liverpool had been the one facet to do the double over a Newcastle facet that misplaced simply 5 instances within the Premier League and certified for the Champions League final season.
Regardless of their fast enchancment beneath Eddie Howe, Newcastle are on a 13-match winless sequence towards Liverpool stretching again to December 2015 – though Klopp is cautious of what they are going to face this weekend.
He feels two of their signings specifically this summer time had been among the many shrewdest of any workforce.
The pace they’ve is de facto good. Newcastle, since final yr not less than, they don’t concede loads however rating. In order that’s a correct sport
Jurgen Klopp
“Newcastle are an extremely sturdy workforce, certified for the Champions League, absolutely deserved,” Klopp stated. “Tremendous improvement beneath Eddie Howe, I’ve to say. Eddie is an excellent coach, an excellent supervisor.
“Sensible enterprise. I don’t need to miss anyone however most likely the 2 standouts in this window: (Sandro) Tonali and (Harvey) Barnes. Actually good enterprise.
“The pace they’ve is de facto good. Newcastle, since final yr not less than, they don’t concede loads however rating. In order that’s a correct sport.”
Whereas Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones are lacking as soon as once more, Klopp will be capable of name upon fellow midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after his pink card within the 3-1 win over Bournemouth was overturned.
Mac Allister – signed from Brighton in the summertime for £35million – was proven a straight pink by referee Thomas Bramall after catching Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie on the foot at Anfield final weekend.
“After I noticed the photographs again I used to be fairly positive that it’s not a pink card however that doesn’t imply then instantly that our attraction might be profitable,” Klopp added.
“You don’t have that loads of instances, that just about everyone agrees this will not be a pink card and shouldn’t be a pink card. Harsh tackles ought to at all times be punished, I completely help that 100 per cent.
“But it surely was not a harsh deal with, it was only a contact within the state of affairs. It was a large aid after I heard that it’s overturned. Excellent information.”
