Liverpool news: New transfers will mean we are expected to challenge for title, admits Jurgen Klopp

The Reds have been the biggest spenders so far and Klopp accepts results must now be seen

Eleanor Crooks
Tuesday 24 July 2018 08:31 BST
Comments
Summer transfer window 2018: Latest Premier League deals and rumours round-up

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Jurgen Klopp accepts there will be pressure on him to win a first trophy with Liverpool this season.

The German will celebrate his third anniversary as manager in October and, although he has brought plenty of excitement to Anfield, so far he has not managed to add any silverware.

Liverpool have lost in three finals under Klopp - the League Cup and Europa League in his first campaign and the Champions League last season - while finishing eighth, fourth and fourth in the Premier League.

Klopp said: "People will say that. It is the next step and we need to be ready for that. I cannot give guarantees here but I understand if people think that. I know about the expectations and that is completely normal.

"First of all we have to play the football that gives us an opportunity to win something. We cannot talk about winning something before we start the season.

"I am confident we can build on last season. It's not that we lost things completely but you have to work on it to get it back. The football the boys played last year was not easy. There was a lot of work invested into playing like that. That's what we will do again. I am not in doubt about our basis or that we will reach it again.

"Other teams, of course, will do transfer business as well. They will not be weaker than last year. City brought in (Riyad) Mahrez. I did not hear that they lost one player so far. So it means the quality of last year plus Mahrez. That's a nice plan as well. United will go for it, too, and that's completely normal.

Liverpool signed Keita from RB Leipzig
Liverpool signed Keita from RB Leipzig (Getty)

"We expect more from ourselves. We will go again for the championship and each kind of cup but that does not mean I can sit here and we will get it. We have the highest ambitions, 100 per cent."

Klopp has been working hard to integrate new arrivals Naby Keita and Fabinho into the squad, with Xherdan Shaqiri yet to join up with his new team-mates following his World Cup exploits.

A number of other key names are also still missing, and Klopp said: "I want to have the best start ever but we all know something can happen and it is all questioned in a second.

"I am in the third season and each season we have a period where a few people questioned me or our progress and all that stuff and in the end it was OK. I am prepared for these moments. I don't want to have them but I will not go nuts and think we have lost everything.

"The new players will make us stronger 100 per cent. But it will not happen in the first day. It is all about staying calm, looking at the situation, judging it right and then make the step."

Liverpool won three of their four matches against Manchester City last season, including both legs of their Champions League quarter-final, but finished 25 points behind them in the league.

Klopp believes consistency is the answer to closing the gap, saying: "It is not just that we have to be more consistent, we have to create circumstances where we can be more consistent. Nobody is consistent with 11 players. What we are working on is the depth of the squad."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in