Johnny Giles issues warning to reported Liverpool target

Johnny Giles believes Jurgen Klopp is confident that he can get the best out of Shane Long amid reports Liverpool want the Southampton striker.

The Republic of Ireland striker is facing a battle for a first-team spot at Southampton after the Saints signed Charlie Austin in a £4m deal at the weekend.

Klopp probably thinks he can get that [consistency] from him, which he may do

Johnny Giles

Klopp started without a recognised striker for Liverpool’s Premier League games against Arsenal and Manchester United over the past week despite Christian Benteke being fully fit.

Long’s style of play could suit the Liverpool manager who Giles feels is unhappy with Benteke’s lack of movement and pressing at the top of his Reds side.

But the former Republic of Ireland manager warned Long that he would need to improve his consistency if the striker secured a move to the 18-time English champions.

“Is he going to do it on a weekly basis for you? I’m not so sure,” Giles told Newstalk.

“I’m a great admirer of Shane Long, he is a great lad. I saw him player for the Irish team a couple of years ago, he chased everything down. He was absolutely brilliant. He scored in the game as well.

“I haven’t seen him do it since for Ireland or Southampton.

“You’d want to be doing it every week. When he does it, he’s very good. He’s been Southampton’s best forward player by a long way. He has to maintain it.

“If Klopp had him, Klopp sees that [potential] in him. He probably thinks he can get that [consistency] from him, which he may do.

“If you get Shane doing it every match, then he would be a very good for Liverpool.”

Long has scored five goals in 14 Premier League games so far this season, although the Irishman has only started nine top-flight games.

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Liverpool have scored eight goals in their last eight games in all competitions.