Jurgen Klopp responds to criticism about Liverpool FC not making key signing
The Liverpool FC boss replies to his critics after the Reds failed to sign a defender in the summer transfer window
Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool’s failure to sign a defender in the summer has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Reds were heavily linked with a move to sign a centre-half in the summer transfer window but Liverpool were unable to get a deal over the line for Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool didn’t find an alternative to the Netherlands international and the Reds have struggled defensively so far this term after conceding 12 times in seven games before the visit of Manchester United this weekend.
Indeed, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Dejan Lovren have all struggled with confidence as Klopp’s recruitment policy continues to come under fire after spending just £13m on defenders since taking over the Merseyside club.
However, Klopp has now hit back at Liverpool’s critics following their failure to sign a centre-half in the summer transfer window.
“We are a good side but we have been speaking since the beginning of the season about how we didn’t buy a defender in the summer,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“This becomes like a self-fulfilling prophecy because every mistake we make goes back to that.
“The boys know this, they don’t feel the confidence. They are good enough but we always have to improve. We don’t say it’s a little bit of luck and this changes. The challenge for us is to stay confident and play football even when we don’t get the results we want.”
Liverpool signed AS Roma winger Mohamed Salah in a £39m deal in June before the Reds agreed a tribunal fee with Chelsea to sign England Under-20 international Dominic Solanke.
Klopp brought in Scotland defender Andy Robertson in an £8m deal from Hull City before Liverpool beat Chelsea to the signing of Arsenal and England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
