#Defending champions #Liverpool are in the midst of an injury crisis at the rear after losing starters #Virgil van #Dijk and #Joe #Gomez for extended stretches, made worse by MP #Joel #Matip’s continued struggles to stay in shape.
#Klopp replaced #Fabinho from a midfielder role and used academy products #Rhys #Williams and #Nathaniel #Phillips with great success, with the constantly evolving four full-backs having only conceded twice in the last four matches. .
#Former #Liverpool defender and #Sky #Sports expert #Jamie #Carragher believes it is “paramount” that the champions sign a center-back in #January to ensure they are able to retain the title. #However, #Klopp said #Sky #Sports #News the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic means the decision is not that simple.
“I know, but it’s nothing new, it still is,” #Klopp said of speculation, when asked if #Matip’s return to full form would end talk of a new central defender arriving in #January.
“I really can’t say anything about it, but you can imagine six months ago we talked about how difficult all football clubs are and thank #God we were able to keep going, and that also helped everyone the clubs.
“But it’s still not the time when you’re really fair…” the #Liverpool boss seems to signal that money has been thrown all over the place before continuing, “At least not for us. I don’t know exactly how it is at other clubs, but we have to be very careful and very serious, and so I don’t know what we can and what we can’t do. ”
‘#Hasenhuttl does an amazing job’
#Klopp praised the transformative work #Ralph #Hasenhuttl did in #Southampton ahead of #Liverpool’s trip to #St #Mary’s on #Monday #Night #Football, live on #Sky #Sports #Premier #League.
The #Liverpool boss knows #Hasenhuttl as an ‘urgent manager’ and has been impressed by the #Austrian’s refusal to give up his philosophies as the club, at one point last season, were in a relegation fight. They enter #Monday’s meeting seven points behind leaders #Liverpool.
“If they weren’t wearing the #Southampton shirt you would see it’s #Southampton – I like that,” #Klopp said.
“He does an incredible job there. #We really got to see last season, when they were in a difficult situation, how he reorganized all the defensive stuff without forgetting for a second what his philosophy was.
“Che #Adams and #Danny #Ings up front, if one of them can’t play it’s #Shane #Long, and the wings are amazingly strong.
“They have a sensational midfielder with #James #Ward-Prowse being the monster of the league and a really organized last row with a stealing goalie. #So it looks really good. ”
