Jurgen Klopp uncertain on more Liverpool transfers

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not sure if he will be able to further strengthen his Liverpool squad this summer.

The Anfield outfit have signed Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay since finishing runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season and a lengthy injury list has left them short of midfielders.

The transfer window closes on September 1 and Klopp said: “We are working constantly on these types of things and we’ve spoken before about why sometimes it’s not happening.

“Sometimes it’s expensive, sometimes not the right player, but then situations change. It needs to be the right player and we’re working. If something will happen or not, I don’t know.”

Injured Liverpool players

The Liverpool boss is not expecting any of his injured players to return to contention for Saturday’s home Premier League game against Bournemouth.

Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Ramsay and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher have all missed out recently, while Núñez is still suspended.

Klopp added: “For this weekend probably not, but after that Joel, Curtis, Thiago is not too far away, Jota is getting closer, so positive news, but I don’t think anyone is available for tomorrow.”

Defeat to United

Monday night’s 2-1 defeat against rivals Manchester United has left Liverpool seven points adrift of early leaders Arsenal.

The German coach admitted his players “have to improve” but said his side’s shortcomings had been “football problems” that could be easily resolved.

Klopp said he was well aware of “the situation” but was not too concerned and insisted he was relishing the challenge.

“The United game has gone – done and dusted – and now we have a different game,” he said.

“It’s not a situation I wanted to have, but actually I like it as well – it’s a challenge.

“It’s not the start you want, but you have to fight back and I’m really happy we have an opportunity now to play at home, twice.

“We understand the situation. I have a sense our people understand the situation as well, so I can’t wait to create a special atmosphere and fit together the team and crowd to make things happen.”

City’s advantage

Liverpool’s poor start in 2022-23 has seen them give defending champions Manchester City a five-point advantage, but Klopp is not concerned.

“You can worry if you want, but it doesn’t make too much sense,” he said. “If you start worrying because other teams (Arsenal) have nine points, that’s obviously not helpful.

“This team delivered for four or five years on an incredibly high level, a consistently high level. A little drop two years ago, but apart from that, so often is the winning side.

“I don’t speak about the close group, but some people take things for granted, like ‘Liverpool against whoever, in the end Liverpool will win’ – that is not the case.

“We had to, and we have to work incredibly hard for it and that’s what we’ll do. It’s too early to close the season and that is it for us.

“Nobody knows what we can achieve at the end of the season, but there are a lot of points to get and we should start collecting them.”