If Jurgen Klopp thought being on the other side of the world would offer some respite, he was sorely mistaken.
Whether it’s Merseyside, Bangkok, Singapore or any place where Liverpool supporters can be found, the question has become pretty much omnipresent.
So, Jurgen, are the Reds signing another midfielder this summer? Klopp was once again put on the spot at the press conference ahead of Friday’s friendly against Crystal Palace in Singapore.
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Rather than bat it away, the Liverpool boss instead politely chose to repeat his message from earlier in the week by pointing out that he already had sufficient options in the engine room and wasn’t expecting anyone to ask to leave before the window shuts in six weeks’ time.
Interesting, though, is what else Klopp proffered.
“We respect the contracts with our boys as well,” he said. “That means as long as we signed them they get all our support – in training, between the sessions, during the games and between the games.”
Klopp has long shown his willingness to extract every second from players who couldn’t or wouldn’t agree new deals – witness Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum – and with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both in the last 12 months of their contracts, the Liverpool boss has clearly seen little reason to change that philosophy.
The duo are in contrasting positions, with the Reds keen to agree an extension with Keita but no such move having yet been made – and increasingly unlikely – regards Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The latter, though, has the chance to follow his team-mate in one regard, even if it may be put on hold due to an untimely hamstring injury suffered on Friday against Palace. Many expected never to see Keita again in a Liverpool shirt after he was given the hook before half-time in the Champions League quarter-final defeat at Real Madrid in April 2021, a belief strengthened by the Guinean not featuring again that season.
Klopp, though, has an unshakeable faith in the player. And after an encouraging pre-season, he went on to make 40 appearances last term – the most of any of his four campaigns at Anfield.
Not for the Reds boss misplaced loyalty out of any sense of sentiment, concerned instead by a simple, ruthless reality – only if a player is no longer deemed capable of doing a job for the team will he become surplus to requirements.
There have been other examples. Kostas Tsimikas was rarely seen during his debut season but, like Keita, impressed last summer. From lesser-spotted to fan favourite, the Greek went on to net the winning penalty in the FA Cup final shoot-out triumph over Chelsea.
“People make one mistake,” continued Klopp. “They underestimate the chance that a player who didn’t play his best season last year might play the best season this year. It’s like football fans – I’m not sure all, but some – don’t give people the chance to improve.
“It’s like, ‘He didn’t play well last year, he cannot score goals, he cannot do that, so get him out of the house.’ Thank God, I am not like this; I judge potential as much as the last season.
“When a player didn’t perform on his highest level, it is at least 50% my fault. So, I have to improve, I have to say the right things, I have to say better things, I have to help him in a better way.”
The Liverpool boss didn’t mention anyone by name but the above words could easily apply to Oxlade-Chamberlain – who hasn’t played in the Premier League since February – as perhaps they did Keita last year.
And it could be argued Curtis Jones falls into the same category, although his tender age – despite making 74 Liverpool appearances, he’s still only 21 – means there is greater room in which he can further progress.
Of course, it could well be that one of the Reds’ engine room options determines in the coming weeks they would prefer pastures new. Should that happen, a decision over reinforcement may have to be taken.
Until then, though, while Klopp remains adamant he doesn’t need a new midfielder, he will hope one emerges from those already at his disposal. Keita is proof it can be done.
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