Bullish Moreno: When I knew Klopp liked me again

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At the end of last season, it was unfathomable to think Alberto Moreno would begin 2017/18 as our starting left-back.

He made just two Premier League starts in 2016/17 and was poor in both, with Liverpool ready to do business at £15m.

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Klopp: I forgive ‘ex-wife Coutinho’ because he didn’t want Everton

However, Napoli, Swansea and other interested clubs wouldn’t pay the required fee and Moreno began the summer in the team for our friendlies – and looked a completely different player.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp decided to stick with the 25-year-old, and although we signed Andrew Robertson as competition, Moreno seems the current first-choice.

The player himself has given a candid interview about his situation and how although he’s had some low points, he’s fought through them for his family and because he recognises that a footballer’s problems are not comparable to the struggle of others.

“The lowest point came at the start of last season when I was not playing,” Moreno told the Telegraph.

“I was training hard and well, and then the manager decided James Milner would be left-back. I was not happy. I was not featuring, my head was not in the right place and I did not feel good. This impacts on your family as well. They were unhappy too. We were all feeling down.

“But in life and in football I am a fighter. I never give up and when you are down you have to use that motivation to work harder. I found strength from my family, my partner Lilia and my daughter Carla, who was born this time last year. Just looking at her face was my motivation. It lifted me.

“Yes, it is tough, but you only know how you will react when you face the situation of not playing.

“Everyone has problems in life, don’t they? The problems of a footballer are nothing. You only have to look around and see people worse off. Recently I have been involved with some of the charities the club supports, such as poor Owen McVeigh (an 11-year-old Liverpool fan) who passed away with leukaemia. His family are trying to help other sick children.

“In the summer training sessions the manager started using Milner in central midfield, so that was also encouraging. I knew there was an impetus to keep working and things would work out. I felt good and thought I can stay here and I can do a job here. I knew in pre-season I had a future here. Obviously I feel much happier now.”

What a superb interview from Albie, who’s also playing a massive role in reintegrating Coutinho into the squad after the summer transfer saga.

In Moreno, could we have found our new Lucas?

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