Liverpool’s quality over quantity approach is one that Jurgen Klopp looks set to continue during the January transfer window.
The German is open to new arrivals given the absence of key players but only for the right deal and only under the right circumstances.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “Of course, the more injuries we have, the more you have to think about it but a lot of people thought in the summer we should have more players but I thought it worked out really well.”
“I don’t need 20 options. I need the right options. It’s not about a number. Always in situations like this it is an opportunity for somebody else who might not be so close to the team.”
“If I had five more players of the same quality they would not get enough games. It is better to bring a young player in.”
“If all the other players stay fit we don’t need anything, we still have offensive options, we have young boys that look good, there are a lot of things we can change.”
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The impressive performances from Liverpool’s youth stars in Tuesday’s EFL Cup quarter final win over Leeds has given everyone reason to be excited about the future of the club.
It also seems that Klopp now has even more faith in the Reds youngsters, which could lead to us seeing them feature for the first team more regularly than many would have expected.
Replacing the injured Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane, who will depart for the African Cup of Nations in January, promises to be a daunting task for any player. The loss of both men does, however, invite more opportunities for Klopp to throw his youngsters into the spotlight once again.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ovie Ejaria, Kevin Stewart and even Ben Woodburn have been tipped to be successful in years to come, but perhaps their time to shine could come sooner.
We haven’t had a group of youngsters with so much talent for quite a while. Klopp, of all people, will want to make the most of this.