Klopp hints he wants new defender but held back by impossible ‘situation’

Jurgen Klopp TEAMtalk

Jurgen Klopp says that Liverpool would have immediately looked to make a new signing if the world was in a “normal place” during the January transfer window.

Reds manager Klopp has faced numerous calls to add to his depleted back line with a new defender. Indeed, all three senior centre-half options are on the sidelines with injury.

But the calls have grown stronger due to the fact that Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are long-term absentees. As such, midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson played as a pairing in Monday’s defeat at Southampton.

Klopp has previously stressed that he did not want to find a short-term fix to his problems. But while reiterating that point again, he admitted that his club’s current situation would usually warrant action.

“I cannot say definitely we will not bring someone in, it’s just not likely because of the situation in the world,” the manager told reporters at Thursday’s press conference (via the Liverpool Echo).

“So we should not forget that the situation is a tough one for all people and for football clubs.

“There might be some clubs without any financial problems but with these owners. This club has always been and always will be responsible with the things we do.”

Klopp then hinted that, without the coronavirus pandemic, Liverpool would “definitely” have looked to address their concerns.

Jurgen Klopp TEAMtalk

“If everything would be fine, we won the league, the Champions League and the club is in the best situation – and then you have three senior centre-halves all injured. Is that a situation where normally you would do something? Yes. Definitely,” he said.

“But we are not in that situation so I don’t know if something will happen.

“You maybe could do something but not a short-term solution because that’s not right. It doesn’t help. So we have to deal with the situation how we dealt with it so far.”

EXCLUSIVE: Heskey makes FA Cup prediction

FA Cup trophy

Klopp was speaking ahead of Friday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Aston Villa.

The Reds head into the game having won only two of their previous six matches. Indeed, they lost their second league game of the season on Monday.

But former Liverpool forward Heskey has told TEAMtalk his predictions for the Villa Park clash.

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