Jurgen Klopp was back in front of the media on Friday for his final pre-match press conference ahead of the World Cup mid-season break, with Liverpool hosting Southampton on Saturday.
The German offered injury updates on the likes of Joel Matip and Luis Diaz, and was also again asked about FSG ’s search for new shareholders at Anfield and the impact it could have on the Reds’ transfer business.
But they weren’t the only items on the agenda, with the World Cup unsurprisingly dominating the pre-match conversations. Here’s what else we learned from Klopp ’s latest media briefing…
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Klopp hits back at Gary Neville
With Trent Alexander-Arnold included in the England squad, Klopp was delighted for the defender - who has admittedly faced plenty of criticism so far this season.
When debating whether the right-back would go to the World Cup after Liverpool ’s victory over Tottenham last weekend, Gary Neville suggested Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate doesn’t trust him.
"It's a really tough one with Alexander-Arnold,” he said. “His brilliance going forward is out of this world. But we're talking about knockout football. Whether England win or lose in a World Cup is going to be down to moments.
"In a World Cup, I think he's giving away a penalty [for his challenge on Ryan Sessegnon]. I don't think Gareth will trust him in a knockout game. Which means, will he then take him? If he's got four brilliant right-backs, will he go?"
With Alexander-Arnold’s spot now confirmed, Klopp wasted no time in hitting back at Neville’s claims as he put the Manchester United legend in his place.
“I didn’t speak to him and I know Trent now long enough, I think he knows - apart from playing football - he has no influence,” the German said. “There is a lot of talk around these kind of things.
“I heard now Gary Neville said something about him not being able to play in the knockout games but Trent Alexander-Arnold is now 24 and he won quite a few finals, that is a very important game where you have to defend.
“We played finals against Chelsea last year, both finals were incredibly intense, top class players, world-class players, in moments better than players you face in the World Cup, like in the [Champions League] finals we played against Tottenham and Real Madrid and he always was there, always defended well.
“I don't know exactly why we have this discussion but it's fine. When you have the choice between four or five - and Walker is kind of fit and Reece James obviously is not available - I think Gareth is very happy he has Trent as well.
“Trent took it, he is very calm. He plays the football he plays, tries to improve, tries to develop, but I think he would have been disappointed if he had not been there.
“I am not sure he was in doubt but with all the discussions – at least the discussions I followed - if everyone had been available it was likely you don't take four right-backs, some of them can play left. I saw his face and realised he was really happy about it."
Alexander-Arnold and Konate reaction
Alexander-Arnold wasn’t the only player who faced an anxious wait to find out if they’d be called up for the World Cup, with Ibrahima Konate also uncertain. The Frenchman, who only made his international debut back in June, has been sidelined for most of the season so far because of injury before returning earlier this month.
When asked about his World Cup contingent, Klopp offered a little insight into how both defenders had taken the news.
“All the players who were nominated, like Ibou, like this, couldn’t be sure,” he said. “I think with Hendo it was clear and with Trent it is nice.
“It’s a big tournament and every player dreams of these things. He was very pleased with the news, so yes I am very happy for him.
“(Ibou is) very good but he was really good before so I cannot say he learned everything here, that is not true. He was an outstanding player in Germany.
“Other players were a bit unlucky with the World Cup. He was not lucky because he came back in time. It was not his season so far, because he was a long time out. Directly after pre-season out for a long time and then out again, it’s not perfect.
“But for him it worked out really well and he deserves it, definitely. France has an incredible amount of centre-halves playing at top clubs all over the world and to make the cut there is a big one.
“He is still a very young man. He was very pleased as well. You needed something to get the smile out of his face. He’s really happy about it and it is a big achievement.”
Liverpool’s ‘rule’ for World Cup stars
Liverpool will have seven players competing at the World Cup, with Jordan Henderson, Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Darwin Nunez and Virgil van Dijk joining the aforementioned two players in Qatar.
In the meantime, the Reds first team will travel to Dubai for a mid-season training camp after an initial break. And Klopp has revealed the rules Liverpool have in place for his World Cup stars as he keeps his fingers crossed that they all come through the tournament free of injury.
“We have seven players at the World Cup, for us very important players but we have a clear rule how it is with the national games,” he said. “The boys have to text me if there are any issues and especially after the game.
“The World Cup, it’s different, we can see all the games and we see who is playing and who is not playing. We read the news because with the World Cup you get all the information.
“When it’s a normal international game and Brazil plays, it is tricky to get any information. We need the players to tell us and that is the contact we will have definitely. The players’ group, when they are winning, the Whatsapp group will go bonkers.
“Anyway we are in the training camp in Dubai so that is around the corner, so if someone has to leave the tournament early, they can join us immediately and that is one of the reasons we go there.”
Kelleher’s future
Away from the World Cup, Klopp was also asked about the future of Caoimhin Kelleher. Liverpool’s second choice goalkeeper made his first appearance for the Reds since February’s League Cup final win over Chelsea this week as he was again the penalty shoot out here - this time against Derby County.
Aware the Republic of Ireland international has ambitions to be a first-choice goalkeeper, Klopp conceded talks might have to be held regarding his future at the club in the future. But that didn’t stop from admitting he hopes Liverpool can retain the 23-year-old’s services.
“With all the things he did so far, he became the goalie he is now,” he said. “It’s not that we think he would be even better. Caoimh is an outstanding goalie, he is our goalie, that is absolutely great.
“A club like us, with all the games we play, needs a goalie of his quality, but if we have something to talk about then I think it makes sense we talk in between.
“It is clear he has ambition to be number one. But everything must be right. Being the number one in the wrong club and all of a sudden you look like you’re not that good a goalie.
“Our style suits him really well, he is really calm on the ball and you can involve him in build-up play. He is a blonde version of Ali. He can learn from an incredible, dedicated goalkeeping staff, these boys are special coaches. I really like how they work.
“It isn’t just Caoimh. We have Marcelo as well. Harvey as well. Adrian is there who always delivered when it was needed. A perfect professional, so many role models and then Ali who combines pretty much everything. This department is really exciting.
“With Caoimh we don’t hold back praise or whatever. He is really, really good and we are really happy to have him but again, start of pre-season, since when he was in training, four weeks. Before that he was not available so he has to stay fit and then the future is bright and we all hope it is here.”
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