The current problems of Liverpool, faced with a wave of injuries and a crisis of results, cannot be solved by the winter transfer window in January, said Friday its coach Jürgen Klopp.
After two consecutive victories in the Premier League in the post-Mindial recovery, Klopp’s men fell to Brentford (3-1) and were held in check at home by Wolverhampton (2-2) in the FA Cup.
Liverpool, who finished runners-up last season, are languishing in seventh place in the Premier League table, seven points behind the top four Champions League qualifying teams.
To strengthen themselves, the vice-champions of England recruited this winter the Dutch prodigy Cody Gakpo (23 years old) from PSV Eindhoven for 37 million pounds (41 M EUR), but the technician of the Reds assured that it would probably be their only purchase this month, due to lack of funds available to complete the team.
«Let’s see, do I still have to tell the story of money? What could be the reason — that we’re rich like Croesus but don’t buy players even when they’re available?quipped Klopp during the match watch conference.
«Is that what you think of me after all these years? Why are you asking the question when the answer is clear. You already know the answer“, annoyed the German technician.
On the eve of facing Brighton on Saturday, Klopp is struggling without strikers Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz, while summer signing Darwin Nunez struggles to regain his form. His midfielder has not been spared from injuries this season either.
«We also have the problem that at the moment four of our offensive players are injured. Now we buy one and the others come back, Darwin too is back soon, the others a bit later, and then we are left with seven attackers“, he detailed.
The Mersey club must face Real Madrid in the round of 16, at Anfield on February 21 and March 15 in Spain, for revenge for the last final won by the Spaniards at the end of May at the Stade de France.
«We couldn’t even put them all on the Champions League list. It is not so easy. You can’t solve problems, especially with wounds“, lamented Klopp who does not count on this transfer window to stack the attackers.