Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will be stronger in upcoming season
Thursday 3 August 2017 21:12, UK
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists his squad will be stronger this year and is targeting an improvement on last season's fourth-place finish.
Daniel Sturridge, Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and James Milner were among those who reported to Melwood for pre-season testing today, as was new signing Dominic Solanke, fresh from his exploits with England's U20 World Cup-winning team where he was voted player of the tournament.
Klopp's other summer signing, winger Mohamed Salah will report back later due to recent international commitments, as will Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Simon Mignolet and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Liverpool continue to be linked with RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, but while the quest for signings continues, Klopp knows he has to get the majority of his players up to speed quickly with a crucial two-legged Champions League play-off looming.
"We all know in a few weeks we have these qualifiers and there will be pressure on the game," he told liverpoolfc.com.
"But now we have the time to prepare for this and we have to use the basis we created last year - it was not too bad. We all know it could have been maybe a little bit better but it could have been much worse.
"We are now one of the top four teams in England so now we want to keep this situation and work with it and improve.
"The squad will be stronger this year than it was last year. That's a real reason for real optimism."
But with their first pre-season friendlies just a week away, first at Tranmere next Wednesday, and then at Wigan two days later, the focus is on getting the current group ready for action.
"I saw the boys this morning and I saw in their faces that they're ready to go. So I'm ready to go," Klopp added.
"Of course, it's not what they love most, it's kind of a weird relationship (with pre-season) - you don't want to do it but you know it's necessary so you do it. You feel bad before and you feel perfect afterwards. It's important for us to know from which point we can pick them in the next few weeks. They all look pretty much in a good shape."
