Klopp: Solution to defence isn’t to sign players

Daniel Storey

Jurgen Klopp has rejected the idea that he must sign players to solve Liverpool’s defensive problems.

Liverpool’s defence has come in for staunch criticism this season after the failure to sign Virgil van Dijk, but they have kept clean sheets in five of their last nine Premier League games. Only Burnley have more.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference before the trip to Arsenal, Klopp was asked whether this new-found resilience impacted upon his transfer plans.

“All what we are doing has influence on how I think. That’s how it is,” was Klopp’s response.

“Yes it has an influence – but I am not sure which way. You will have to wait and see.

“Because our defensive record has been good, I don’t need to sign a defensive player or something like this? That will never stop, until we do it.

“I love the game, but I don’t think the solution is always to sign a new player.

“When we defend well, I’m happy and when we defend badly I am not but I don’t think the solution is just to sign a player like that.

“I am a supporter but I cannot be a supporter in this way – I cannot change my mind like that.”