Can't buy consistency: Klopp

Jurgen Klopp maintains that Liverpool will dive into the transfer market only if they have the money and the need to buy a player.
Jurgen Klopp maintains that Liverpool will dive into the transfer market only if they have the money and the need to buy a player. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Even as the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea look set to dive into the transfer market after being left in the dust in this season's English Premier League title race, champions Liverpool believe their jigsaw puzzle is already complete.

In a virtual press conference with global media ahead of today's league game against Chelsea, who are third and 30 points adrift, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted he was "happy with my squad 100 per cent".

The 53-year-old German cited how the Reds did not panic buy after losing last season's championship to City by just a point despite a 97-point haul, and touched on the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which will affect the transfer market.

He added: "It is not that we think we cannot improve on a transfer basis, we just do what is possible for us.

"The main difference between us and other teams this year is consistency... I don't know if you can buy that on the transfer market. We had to build that as well, so that needed time obviously.

"It is not about spending, it is about having the right team based on your own situation. We cannot buy because other teams buy, we cannot buy because everybody wants us to. We can buy if we have the money and the need. If one of these is not there, we will not."

It was clear that Klopp, who has brought in 34 players since taking the reins at Liverpool in 2015, relished the achievement of building this side as the Reds finally get their hands on the league trophy at Anfield today after a 30-year wait.

While he beamed with pride when asked about how one of the cheaper buys in his first team - left-back Andy Robertson was signed from Hull City in 2017 for £8 million (S$14.1 million) - has flourished, Klopp looked equally pleased when The Straits Times asked for his pick for this year's PFA Player of the Year.

Indeed, while Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have plundered goals thanks to flying full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, goalkeeper Alisson and centre-back Virgil van Dijk have been colossal in defence.

  • 34

    Players signed at Liverpool since Jurgen Klopp arrived in 2015.

And there are unsung but influential heroes such as skipper Jordan Henderson, one of the favourites alongside Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne to win the prestigious accolade on Friday.

With a laugh, Klopp said: "Thank God I don't make this decision! My job is to bring as many players as possible to the election and we have a few, which is very good.

"I am really happy with the season we played, and that is only possible because the players had an incredible season, all of them. And so, I'm very pleased that it is not 100 per cent clear who will be the PFA Player of the Year, but there will be Liverpool players around I'm pretty sure."

• The Straits Times' coverage of Reds manager Jurgen Klopp's virtual press conference was made possible by Standard Chartered Bank.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 22, 2020, with the headline Can't buy consistency: Klopp. Subscribe