Klopp may make changes after players “lost the plot” against Brighton

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is considering making changes to his side after conceding that the players who started against Brighton on Saturday “lost the plot” in the second half.

The Mirror reports that, despite winning three successive games against West Ham, Crystal Palace and Brighton, the German manager has suggested that alterations to the starting XI are now required.

“I know how it looks at the moment – we played three times now with the same line-up,” he said. “Leicester we will see what we can do and then hopefully they all come back healthy (from the international break).

“But we have to use all of them and we will do. Then the games are really coming, it is an intense time and it looks like ‘How can you leave out him or him or him?’.

“Don’t forget Divock Origi and Dom Solanke trained really, really good and are not in the squad (on Saturday). That is really hard but they will be used as well and they will have a part to play.”

Klopp named an unchanged side for the third game in a row on Saturday and reaped the rewards after a first-half Mohamed Salah strike earned the Reds all three points. Towering defender Virgil van Djik and goalkeeper Alisson also made key defensive contributions.

The manager was pleased with the result, despite his team proving unable to add to Salah’s goal in the face of Brighton’s compact defensive setup.

READ: Goalkeeper Alisson will not change his style of play

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on August 25, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

READ: Klopp happy with Wijnaldum’s solid start to the season

“My whole life I have found a 1-0 a very pleasing result,” he said. “I like it a lot but I am really happy after a 4-0 to be honest! In this early part of the season it was clear – we have to come into the season.

“West Ham was really good but then you come into another situation where you have to fight really hard and we did that. At Crystal Palace sometimes it looked like ‘Yes!’ and other times ‘Hmmm’ but we won it 2-0.

“In the second half (against Brighton) we lost the plot. The freshness, the intensity, the legs – all these things. We had outstanding counter-pressing situations in the first half. In the second half we had none. We were still around but we didn’t win the balls. It’s not because the boys didn’t want it but because they felt the intensity.”

Despite recognising the energy-sapping nature of the early season games, Klopp doesn’t allow his players to rest on their laurels.

“After winning 4-0 [against West Ham] we didn’t run around Melwood for the rest of the week with our arms in the air. We will not do it this week.

“We will prepare for Leicester. We have a lot of things to improve but it’s clear that still winning on a not perfect day gives you different opportunities. That is clear.

“I’ve spoken about this a lot – if we are good then we win, if we are average then very often we lost. Usually we win or we draw when we are good and lose most of the time when we are average and that is what we have to change.

“We want to be brilliant all the time but, if that doesn’t happen, that doesn’t mean we don’t go for a result. We fought for this result and so I am really happy.”

Changes to the starting XI could see the return of captain Jordan Henderson, while Adam Lallana and new signing Xherdan Shakiri may get more game time. Fabinho, a £39million acquisition from Monaco, is still adjusting to life in Liverpool and may need more time to settle.

The post Klopp may make changes after players “lost the plot” against Brighton appeared first on AnfieldHQ.

Source: anfieldhq.com