[ad_1]
Jurgen Klopp believes that Liverpool has badembled a team that will allow him to win the biggest prizes of the game for years to come.
The Reds have the opportunity to score seven points ahead in the Premier League if they beat Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday.
The last time Liverpool had contested the title in 2013/14 and 2008/09, they fell to the ground and quickly regained the upper hand.
However, Klopp is confident that whatever happens by May, the foundations for a bright future are in place.
Andy Robertson became this week the last key player to sign a new long-term contract – succeeding Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Joe Gomez. Crucially, all of these players are 28 years old or younger and have not yet reached their peak.
"That's what our owners have given us the opportunity to do," Klopp said.
"Buying new players is expensive, signing new players is expensive, extending contracts with the best players is expensive. It's like that.
"For that, you need the money of life. Everything is fine. On the other hand, other clubs are paying well.
"If they (the players) did not believe in the project and would not enjoy living and working here, they would not stay.
"Keeping them all together, we would have a better chance of making the next step next season compared to previous years. But last year, we already felt comfortable and could bring the boys without losing players in the summer. "
Liverpool reluctantly agreed to sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £ 142m last January, and Emre Can left the club at the end of last season after signing his contract.
But Klopp thinks the Reds have strengthened their ranks since then by recruiting wisely. Fabinho has arrived to take the place of Can and the manna of the exit of Coutinho paid the central defender Virgil van Dijk and the goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
"Yes, we lost Emre who was an important player but we could replace him immediately by Fabinho," Klopp said.
"And the transfer Phil saw a world-clbad player leave but gave us the opportunity to sign two world-clbad players. It's like that sometimes.
"We are still trying to make the next step and it looks like we have done it, but I only want to talk about this season.
Read more
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
"It's the most important thing we've ever played because it's the one we're in. But there will be another one and we need to make sure we're ready for that too."
Klopp took advantage of the rare luxury of a full week on the training ground in Melwood before visiting Palace.
The manager said that the intensity and quality of these sessions helped keep the standards at such a high level within his team as they sought to retain their fame.
"That's what you buy when you get these boys. I would like to say that I am responsible for some of the boys' skills but I am not. They brought it with them, "Klopp said.
"You must always make the most of it to gather it and link it to all the other things you need.
"It's fantastic, especially for young boys like Rafa (Camacho), Curtis (Jones) and Ki-Jana (Hoever) when they enter. They are a little shocked (by the norm) and adapt to it. This is the best sign because it allows me to make sure that they are ready. It's really, really important. Keeping it throughout the year is a challenge. "
The four strikers Salah, Mane, Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri already have 42 goals to date.
Klopp said, "Look, I can stand in line for the 2013 team in Dortmund. My offensive line was Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski, sometimes Kevin Groskreutz.
"It's an offensive line if you bring them together again at that time and it's amazing. It's a mix of everything: small space, big space, power, creativity.
"I do not have to compare that. I do not want to get them back, they are all good where they are and we are still friends. But this team is a good one here. We obviously can not have 57 points if we are not good.
"I do not think too much about my former teams but if I think about them, I can not avoid smiling, because I was lucky to have very good players.
"Many of them were not so good when we came in, but when they were together, they improved a lot." That's what happened here again.
"Would that have happened for each person if she was not in this group? I'm not so sure. The power, skills and attitude of all the boys around facilitate their progression.
"You do not have to think about this or that. You have three solutions in the small spaces, because the players present themselves much more. Be confident help with football.
"The best player in the world with a lower level of confidence, you will never recognize him. Usually, they have a higher level of confidence, but playing in the right team helps every player in the world to play his best. "
Klopp did his homework on Palace, which was the last team to win a Premier League match at Anfield in April 2017.
"I've watched them 51 times!", He joked, citing Marcelo Bielsa's revelation at this week's "Spy-Gate" conference, that the Leeds boss had badyzed 51 games in Derby County. .
Palace are only four points above the drop zone, but their last two results on the outside should attract attention. They beat Manchester City at Etihad and then won at the Wolves.
"The percentage of possession was 70 or 80 for City. It's huge, "said Klopp.
"Palace scored a nice goal. Let's hope (Andros) Townsend will not do it anymore! In counterattacks, to set kicks, it is clear that they are good.
Video not available
Click to play
Press to play
Play now
"But I've also watched other games. We must also see them play football. There was not too much in this game.
"That's why I watched three different types of games, and at least two away games but one home match as well, because it gives you a better idea of what they do if you play them. let it go. That's why it's more important not to allow them.
"If you let Crystal Palace play, they are really good. They play directly and defend themselves quite deeply, but at Crystal Palace they did exactly the same thing and we scored at least one goal on a counterattack after a decisive blow. By using situations like this, everything is important. "
Source link