Jurgen Klopp has praised his team for the way it has handled a difficult summer at Anfield.
Liverpool have been frustrated with failed deals for primary transfer targets and embroiled in an effort to keep Philippe Coutinho from the clutches of Barcelona.
The Reds have rejected three bids from the Catalan giants, the third worth up to £118million, and Klopp admits the situation has partially fuelled a tough period for the club.
That said, he has no quarrels with the Spanish side.
“To be disappointed about different things, you need to have expectations,” Klopp told the Liverpool Echo.
“I don’t have expectations, I don’t think about other clubs to be honest. We all have our own problems. If we think we have to do something, we do it.”
“In this moment I would have preferred we finished our business six weeks ago. Let all the rest of the world do what they do. It’s getting more and more different and difficult.”
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“I don’t judge what other clubs are doing. I am not sure there was one easy day since we started pre-season. Always something changes.”
“All the discussions about Phil and then in the same moment Adam Lallana gets injured. It was like ‘what?’ I don’t think anyone can expect that we are prepared for this. The team have handled it all brilliantly so far.”
Aside from Coutinho’s disappointing request to leave the club, Adam Lallana’s injury also came as a crushing blow ahead of the new season.
Klopp very rightly, though, points out the attitude of his squad, with Roberto Firmino defying suggestions he cannot shine without Coutinho, Emre Can playing through illness against Hoffenheim, the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah rising to the occasion and Trent Alexander-Arnold making the most of his opportunity in the first team.
The Reds are putting in the hard work and when Coutinho does join up with the team again, he has it all to do.