Jurgen Klopp’s claims that Liverpool don’t need to sign a new defender were always going to trigger a reaction, but, thankfully, most Reds have seen the German’s comments for what they truly are.
Fans are understandably eager to see the club sign Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk as a way of rectifying the defensive frailties that hurt the team so dearly last season.
While a deal for the Dutchman may still be possible, Klopp was never going to say his team needed reinforcements with Liverpool’s first game of the new Premier League season just days away.
The last thing the Reds need is their current first choice defenders feeling as though they don’t have the support of their manager.
Besides this, the complications surrounding Liverpool reviving their interest in Van Dijk and the uncertainty surrounding a deal means the logical thing for Klopp to do is to prepare for life with the defensive quartet he already has.
A deal for Van Dijk almost certainly won’t be done before Saturday’s trip to Watford, making it only right that Klopp focuses on giving his backing to a first choice partnership of Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren.
Reds have taken slightly varied views towards the matter, with some admiring the boss putting his confidence in what he has, while others have stressed the need for another defender.
Here’s what they had to say…
Imagine Jurgen Klopp comes out and says “yeah, we’re desparate to buy a defender”
Prices of target(s) 🔺
Confidence of current players 🔻
— Ste Hoare (@stehoare) August 7, 2017
Do people genuinely expect Klopp to come out & say we’ve got 4 poor centre-backs and need a new recruit? Has to give his players confidence.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) August 6, 2017
Klopp says we don’t need a centre back lol even though its our defence that cost us last season. #LFC @LFC
— Chola Mubanga (@lizzo7) August 7, 2017
If klopp is speaking the truth and no bluffing about needing centre back. We need to bring sakho back into the mix.
— joe devlin (@joedevlin7) August 7, 2017
If it were me, I’d buy a centre-back. I think we’re 2 players away from the squad being ‘complete’. Having said that, I totally trust Klopp.
— Jack Sear (@JackSear) August 6, 2017
I don’t see why Klopp is saying we do not need a centre back for next season when our defence as a whole last season was appalling
— ✨kayla (@ClassicalCouts) August 6, 2017
He has to say these things but lets hope he doesnt actually mean them
— Jay-LFC (@jaymgs12) August 6, 2017
He said he was happy with the squad when he first took over, but he knew it needed improving, so just his way of keeping confidence going
— Keith Bishop (@KeithBishop64) August 6, 2017
We do need a centre half. Matip and Lovren may do the job for us. But you can guarantee that partnership won’t stay fit.
— sam garlick (@samjgarlick) August 7, 2017
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Klopp drops shock Van Dijk hint… but interpretation is key