{"id":286730,"date":"2023-08-26T13:35:49","date_gmt":"2023-08-26T13:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=286730"},"modified":"2023-08-26T13:35:49","modified_gmt":"2023-08-26T13:35:49","slug":"liverpool-lucky-with-availability-of-centre-backs-this-season-jurgen-klopp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/liverpool-lucky-with-availability-of-centre-backs-this-season-jurgen-klopp\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool lucky with availability of centre-backs this season \u2013 Jurgen Klopp"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool must be \u201clucky\u201d with the availability of their centre-backs this season as he hinted he was unlikely to add to his options before the transfer deadline.<\/p>\n
Ibrahima Konate is a doubt for Sunday afternoon\u2019s trip to Newcastle because of a muscular problem and Joe Gomez or Joel Matip could instead partner Virgil Van Dijk at the heart of the Reds\u2019 defence.<\/p>\n
Nat Phillips is another alternative but Klopp is well aware that a shortage of options and a spate of injuries could spell trouble as he had to get creative with his backline during the 2020-2021 season.<\/p>\n
A total of 20 different combinations were used during the turbulent campaign and Klopp is keeping everything crossed that he does not have to deal with a defensive crisis in the forthcoming months.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn an ideal world, we have six, seven, eight centre-halves and cover for absolutely everything,\u201d the Liverpool manager said. \u201cNo, we need to be lucky with injuries, there is no doubt about that.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI have no doubt about the quality of the boys we have. We have (academy player) Jarell Quansah, a super-talented player, available as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this moment we are covered but it is not dreamland where you can be prepared for absolutely each situation. We had to learn that in the past as well a couple of times.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will try to do our absolute best to have a squad for next week, a squad for us where we can react on pretty much everything. Is that possible? We will see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liverpool were the only side to do the double over a Newcastle side that lost just five times in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League last season.<\/p>\n
Despite their rapid improvement under Eddie Howe, Newcastle are on a 13-match winless sequence against Liverpool stretching back to December 2015 \u2013 although Klopp is wary of what they will face this weekend.<\/p>\n
He feels two of their signings in particular this summer were among the shrewdest of any team.<\/p>\n
The speed they have is really good. Newcastle, since last year at least, they don\u2019t concede a lot but score. So that\u2019s a proper game<\/p>\n
\u201cNewcastle are an incredibly strong team, qualified for the Champions League, fully deserved,\u201d Klopp said. \u201cSuper development under Eddie Howe, I have to say. Eddie is a super coach, a super manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmart business. I don\u2019t want to miss anybody but probably the two standouts in this window: (Sandro) Tonali and (Harvey) Barnes. Really good business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe speed they have is really good. Newcastle, since last year at least, they don\u2019t concede a lot but score. So that\u2019s a proper game.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones are missing once again, Klopp will be able to call upon fellow midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after his red card in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth was overturned.<\/p>\n
Mac Allister \u2013 signed from Brighton in the summer for \u00a335million \u2013 was shown a straight red by referee Thomas Bramall after catching Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie on the foot at Anfield last weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I saw the pictures back I was pretty sure that it\u2019s not a red card but that doesn\u2019t mean then immediately that our appeal will be successful,\u201d Klopp added.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou don\u2019t have that a lot of times, that pretty much everybody agrees this is not a red card and should not be a red card. Harsh tackles should always be punished, I absolutely support that 100 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it was not a harsh tackle, it was just a touch in the situation. It was a massive relief when I heard that it is overturned. Very good news.\u201d<\/p>\n
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