Jurgen Klopp has explained his theory why he thinks Danny Ings did not make it at Liverpool. Ings managed just four goals for Liverpool during his four years at Anfield between 2015 and 2019.
He enjoyed greater success when he moved on to Southampton for £20million and he scored 34 Premier League goals in his two seasons at St Mary’s to earn a £25million switch to Aston Villa.
Ings, 30, has managed six goals this season for Villa and Klopp says he never had any doubts about the striker’s quality ahead of their reunion on Boxing Day at Villa Park.
The Liverpool boss says Ings struggled at Anfield following his Bosman move from Burnley because of a succession of injuries. He spent more time on the sidelines receiving treatment than on the pitch and Klopp says this held him back.
Klopp says he had the talent to make it at Anfield, but was held back by his injuries and ultimately left because he knew he needed to play more regularly somewhere else.
“That Ingsy didn’t make it here in the end was just because of injuries,” he said. “Of course, a player in his age needs to, and wants to, play regularly and we couldn’t offer that in that moment.
“That was the only reason and there was no other reason. His quality was never in doubt, not for one second. He showed that at Southampton and now at Aston Villa, so that’s clear.
“They have other good strikers other than Ingsy and one or two games they have played with Ollie Watkins and Buendia up front. That’s massive speed. We will see how they play, but when Ingsy is on the pitch, he’s a massive threat. He’s a real goal-getter in the pure sense and that makes him really dangerous for each opponent.”
Klopp is wary of the threat posed by Unai Emery’s Villa and is impressed by the Spaniard’s early successes back in the Premier League. Emery has masterminded Villa to Premier League wins over Manchester United and Brighton before the break for the World Cup and Klopp can see his fingerprints on how the Midlands club are playing.
“What you can expect is a specific kind of football and he was really successful, and did a great job, at Villarreal, but not only there,” he said. What you saw in the first few games they played and the games we could see in this second pre-season, it looks quite similar and it’s his way to play and a good way to play.
“This is how he wants to organise his team. Yes, we don’t know exactly what to expect, but you never know exactly what to expect anyway.
"At least we have an idea of how they will want to cause us problems, so that’s what we prepare for. We have our analysis, that’s obviously started already, so know we have two days to create a plan to cause them problems.”
