After leading Liverpool to last season’s Champions League final, Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp admits expectations are high among the club’s supporters.
Since arriving on Merseyside in 2015 the German, 51, has taken Liverpool to three finals - the 2016 League Cup, 2016 Europa League and 2018 Champions League - but is yet to win a trophy.
The BBC reports that Klopp has spent nearly £250m in the past 12 months but also sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £142m in January. With the signings of goalkeeper Alisson, midfielders Naby Keita and Fabinho and also winger Xherdan Shaqiri this summer, Klopp says the “next step” is for Liverpool to bring home silverware.
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Klopp said: “I know about the expectations and that is completely normal. We have the highest ambitions - 100%.”
Liverpool have not won the title since 1990 and when asked about winning trophies Klopp added: “It is the next step and we need to be ready for that. I cannot give guarantees here but I understand if people think that.
“First of all, we have to play the football that gives us an opportunity to win something. We cannot talk about winning something before we start the season.”
With Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane once again set to link up in attack the signings of Alisson, Keita and Fabinho will add some steel to the squad.
If they do aim to win the Premier League Liverpool have to play catch-up against a Manchester City side that finished 25 points ahead of them last season. The Reds did however beat Pep Guardiola’s side three times.
Impact of the new signings
Former Liverpool star Steve McManaman believes the signing of £65m Brazil goalkeeper Alisson could be worth every penny.
McManaman told the Daily Mail: “Signing Alisson smashed the record for a goalkeeper but players are worth what they are worth now, that’s just the value of good players, if you want the best you pay good money.
“Alisson is considered one of the best, so he’s worth it. Was Virgil van Dijk worth £75m? If you ask Liverpool fans the answer is yes and you just hope the goalkeeper is the same. [Italian keeper Gianluigi] Buffon broke the record back in the day, look how good he went on to be.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge has praised the signing of midfielder Naby Keita from RB Leipzig. The Liverpool striker says that Keita is “something different” and he is surprised by how talented the 23-year-old is.
Sturridge told the club’s website: “I love that guy. I’m surprised how good he is actually, if I’m honest. I haven’t seen a midfielder like him for a while, he is something different. It’s crazy. The things he can do with the ball – he can defend, he can pass, he can dribble, he is fast, he is strong. He has got everything.”
Klopp plans Anfield clear-out
The Daily Mirror reports that after his summer spending Klopp is planning to sell up to eight players and bring in more than £100m. Strikers Divock Origi and Danny Ings could be set for the Anfield exit as well as one of the two goalkeepers, Loris Karius or Simon Mignolet.
Winger Lazar Markovic and midfielder Pedro Chiravella are also expected to leave while loans could be arranged for Ben Woodburn, Marko Grujic and Sheyi Ojo.
Has Klopp’s summer spending finished?
There’s been plenty of transfer activity so far this summer with £170m spent, but is Klopp still looking to bolster his squad?
The Daily Express says that Croatian defender Domagoj Vida is close to agreeing terms, but the Liverpool Echo disputes that claim by saying the Reds “will not sign Vida this summer - or any other centre-back”.
Lyon and France star Nabil Fekir is still being linked after his move fell through last month while it’s reported that Napoli duo Piotr Zielinski and Kalidou Koulibaly could also be on the Liverpool hit list.
However, after confirming the signing of Alisson last week Klopp declared to the Echo: “We’ve got everything we need for this season.”
