Klopp on opportunities, Fabinho’s adaptation, and the Carabao Cup

Jürgen Klopp spoke to the media about tonight’s Carabao Cup clash between Liverpool and Chelsea, discussing “opportunities” for certain players, Fabinho’s ongoing adaptation to life at Anfield, and the importance of the competition.

“We lost very important players for us during the summer – we had to replace them and we did,” Klopp explained. “We always had a really good squad when we had not a lot of injuries. Then we had a lot of injuries and the squad didn’t look that good anymore because all the other players had to play all the time.

“In the moment, we are in quite a good moment. If they can all carry on training like they do, pushing each other and all that stuff, then we are ready for more than one competition, which we actually have to be.

“There are always only two in a week, there are not three competitions in one week. You have to play the Premier League always and then one of the other competitions. It depends on us how long we will play them.

“From this perspective, in the moment, I would say as long as possible but how long it is possible I don’t know.”

The Reds manager, who has seen his side clinch seven wins in all competitions on the bounce this season so far, highlighted tonight’s tie as a chance for ‘fringe’ players to stake their claim for a starting place.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Joel Matip of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on September 22, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

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Klopp said: “Football players are used to that. Playing a game with 50 per cent would be a waste of time and would not make too much sense. But I don’t put pressure on each player that plays tomorrow, I really see it as an opportunity.

“If we make changes then it’s an opportunity; if not, it’s an opportunity anyway. The boys have to prove themselves constantly. You have to show you’re ready for each competition and each game. So far, that has pleased me most – the impact of the boys that came in.

“Joel [Matip] was brilliant [on Saturday], he did fantastic. I don’t know when he played his last competitive game. [Xherdan] Shaqiri, of course, and all the guys who came in were really good. That’s so important to us. I want to see a really good football game tomorrow and I want us to win the game.

“I couldn’t name one player in the moment who is not training on his highest level. That’s the best thing to say. In the end, as long as they do that, nobody is in a bad situation. They are all close or in – nobody is out.”

New signing Fabinho has yet to start for Liverpool since his £40million move from Monaco in the summer, but Klopp was quick to explain why the Brazilian’s adaptation takes time.

“It’s not different between him and other players,” said Klopp. “It’s really not complicated, only you need to get used to it. It’s about positioning, it’s about reaction, it’s about spaces – defensively, closing them; offensively, use them.

“It’s a football team with a specific way of playing. That always needs time and they were all used to other football teams. So, you have natural runs in a team.

“It’s always different but it will happen because it’s not really difficult, it’s only because the game is so quick and so intense, it needs to get natural. At the end, it’s not about changing these players or changing their football personality. They are here because they did what they did. But now we have to work on that it fits.”

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – Saturday, September 23, 2017: Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Finally, Klopp provided reassurances that he and his Liverpool team are taking the Carabao Cup very seriously tonight.

“It’s never the competition and we say, ‘It’s only the League Cup’. The final is at Wembley and I remember when we were there – we wanted to win it, really. We were close but we didn’t. So we will try again.

“But it’s not about judging the silverware that is more important. You cannot do it like that. What we have to do is to always be at 100 per cent concentration, focus and rhythm. Don’t think about where it leads to.

“If I see one player tomorrow who goes into the game and I have the feeling that he thinks it’s only the League Cup, then he could have a real problem. But I know there will be no player. I don’t think so, the players don’t think so.

“Tomorrow night is a football game at a sold-out Anfield so we will be there with all we have. That’s all we’re thinking about. Then, if we go to the next round, then we’ll play that game again with all we have. That’s the only way I know.”

Liverpool face Chelsea tonight at 7:45pm at Anfield.

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Source: anfieldhq.com