On the eve of Liverpool’s league cup quarter-final match against Southampton, Jurgen Klopp has steered clear of any claims suggesting Liverpool are hunting for a goalkeeper in the January transfer window and declared himself happy with current goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Klopp also revealed what he said to his players just before Steven Gerrard returned to training at Melwood yesterday.
The Reds are riding on the wave of a 1-0 home win against Swansea in the Premier League and now travel to St.Mary’s to face Southampton in a League Cup quarter-final tie. But Klopp was asked questions regarding the goalkeeper situation, and the German made himself perfectly clear.
Klopp dismisses claims of signing a goalkeeper
The Reds have been linked with a move for Stokea s England international Jack Butland, and quite a few goalkeepers from the Bundesliga, but Klopp steered clear of the rumors and insisted Mignolet remains the number one goalkeeper at Anfield.
“I’m absolutely satisfied with our goalkeeper situation,” said manager Klopp, as reported by thisisanfield . .
“I’m sorry to kill your stories about German goalkeepers and different goalkeepers from Stoke a we are not looking for another goalkeeper. We have enough high-quality goalkeepers.
“Simona I have had a lot of goalkeepers in the last few years and he is one of the smartest I’ve ever had. He is completely open. He’s young enough to develop, to improve.
“He had not the most easy situation before I came here but since I am here there is nothing to criticise, absolutely nothing. He is a good football player. Everything is okay.
“Everyone is watching for a second Manuel Neuer or things like this but he is on a really good way. The goalkeeper situation until now is a comfortable one and I hope it stays like this, of course.”
On Gerrard’s return
Steven Gerrard returned to training at Melwood on Saturday, and although he will not be playing, Klopp admitted that the legend’s presence is immensely inspirational for the players.
a He was the last in the dressing room, so I told the players ita s completely normal, it should always be like this if you are a player like Steven Gerrard.
a At Liverpool the door has always to be open it has to be like this. Ita s an important sign for my players, I told them, if you behave like him for I dona t know – 50 years! – like him, if you always do like him then it is easy to come back.a
Liverpool will probably rest a few key players, as they are eyeing a Champions League spot this season. For Southampton, who are sitting in 10th place in the league, the league cup will be the priority and the Saints will go all out against the visitors.
