Klopp reassures January signing of future plans amid slow Liverpool start

Ben Davies Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp insists he is happy to take an ‘Andy Robertson’ style approach with Ben Davies as the January signing continues to wait for his opportunity at Liverpool.

Davies joined the Reds in January from Preston, signing for an initial £500,000 deal.

The defender though is yet to make an appearance, despite a flurry of injuries. That has already seen Davies branded a “pointless signing” by one former player.

Klopp, however, is adamant the player will be afforded time – and pointed to the time it took with Robertson to adjust.

“It was always clear when a lot of players came here to Liverpool and the most famous stories, Andy Robertson took half a year in a normal season where pretty much everything else was kind of settled to settle in,” Klopp said.

“Ben is a really good player but he has to get used to all this stuff here as well, that’s how it is. We still have options and hopefully, it will stay like this.

“I don’t make these kinds of judgments [if he is not to play this season]. I don’t tell Ben we have just to train until mid-May and then we see further, no.

“It will take as long as it takes. But the problem was that it was clear that we will not start with two new centre-halves if we don’t have to because of the situation.

Klopp: Jota return really important

Klopp: Jota return really important

Jurgen Klopp says Diogo Jota was a big miss for Liverpool and his return to fitness is really important for plenty of reasons.

“In this position, it is really important that the boys in the last line are used to each other and the more games you can play together, the better it is.

“That’s why we always fiddled a little bit here and there and and try to make it as consistent as possible, but a lot of things disturb that process, but now it’s okay.

“Ben will play when he will play. That’s how it is.”


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Klopp hoping Kabak, Phillips continue to excel

Klopp hopes he has finally found a centre-back partnership he can rely on to see him through the remainder of the season.

The on-loan Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips, who only made his Premier League debut in October at the age of 23, have kept clean sheets in the two matches they have started together.

One was against bottom side Sheffield United. However, more impressive was the midweek Champions League performance against RB Leipzig, currently second in the Bundesliga.

With Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip out for the remainder of the season, Klopp is keen to keep this pair together for as long as possible. Not least because it allows Fabinho to return to his preferred central midfield position.

However, Klopp does not want the pair to think they are on trial to be a longer-term solutions.

“There is no test now, or whatever. It’s not a testing period about a long-term future or whatever. We will see,” he said ahead of Monday’s trip to Wolves.

“I hope they will stay fit, but I cannot sit here and give guarantees for these kind of things.

“It looked good. If they are physically ready to go again, which I hope, then why should I change it?

“We want to have consistency, and we never had that. Hopefully they can play a lot of games if not all of them.

“If not we have to find solutions. Rhys Williams, I don’t want to forget him, he’s in a good moment.”

READ MORE: Klopp promised funds as Liverpool boss identifies three transfer priorities