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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Theo Squires

What Jurgen Klopp didn't reveal in press conference as Erling Haaland Liverpool scouting admission made

Jurgen Klopp Erling Haaland Manchester City Bobby Rangers Gabriel Jordan Henderson Mohamed Salah Pep Guardiola Roberto Firmino

Jurgen Klopp was back in front of the press on Friday morning as he previewed Liverpool's home clash with Man City.

Well-aware the Reds' poor start to the season has already taken them out of title contention, the German was still hopeful his side could build on Wednesday's 7-1 victory over Rangers as they look to reignite their campaign once and for all against the reigning champions.

With plenty covered at the AXA Training Centre, here's what we learned from Klopp's latest pre-match press conference...

Haaland watch

Much of Klopp 's pre-match press conference was dominated by talk of Erling Haaland. Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool boss is a big fan as he recalled when he first became aware of the powerhouse Norwegian.

"He's probably the best striker in the world at the moment," Klopp told reporters when pondering how to stop the striker. "You have to make sure he doesn't get many balls. That's what we will try.

"The problem with City is if you close Haaland down with two many players, then you open up for all the other world class players. It doesn't make it easier. It's a challenge, a football problem and we will try and find solutions.

"(I first became aware of him at) Salzburg. We played them. Even when he was very young, younger than now, you could see the potential was insane. I don't think he started against us in the home game, I think he was injured but came on, but we were already pretty busy thinking about him.

"I remember talking about how to close him down, how can you shut him down if you like. He scored anyway. Physically, he sets new standards.

"The combination of being really physical and technical. Sensational awareness, his orientation on the pitch is exceptional. Barely offside, reads it really well. So many things that make him a striker. At City, some of the best players around him in the world in setting up goals and finding the right moment for the passes. It's a perfect fit, no doubt about that.

"He combines so many things and it's rare. His finishing skills are exceptional. He moves really smart. That makes him tricky. You can only use sport if you use it in a smart way. Just running is not helpful. You need to make sure you are patient enough to not be offside. The package makes it special."

Klopp would reference Haaland's timing of his runs a number of times as he praised how he rarely ends up offside. The same cannot be said of Darwin Nunez in recent outings as he finds his own feet in England. A cryptic message regarding the Uruguayan perhaps, as Liverpool look to get him up to speed?

I am the cheeky one

'Cheeky' was Klopp's go-to word throughout his latest media briefing as he praised Mohamed Salah 's 'cheeky' finishing against Rangers and called for his side to be both confident and 'cheeky' against Man City. Will cheekiness be a decisive factor at Anfield on Sunday? Who knows...

Firmino reality check

Roberto Firmino has enjoyed a impressive start to the season in front of goal, top-scoring for Liverpool with eight goals and also returning four assists. But while Klopp is pleased by such returns from the Brazilian, he pointed out the Reds' below-par performances and disappointing results are far more important as he issued listening journalists with a reality check about his side's fortunes.

"Bobby is in a really good moment. I am really happy for him," he said. "It's extremely helpful where the boys still know where the goal is. We just need to spread the goals a bit more to different games, not focus on one, then seven and nine then have nil. But we know that. Positive things always help all of us.

"Nobody has played the season he should have yet. Yes, Bobby numbers-wise it is like this. He scored two last night (and the assist), how many were against Bournemouth?

"Bobby is an exceptional player. I said that, I don't think anyone has said it more often than I have. But it's not like he was flying in all the games. We take the numbers and it's his best start, statistically, but we as a team didn't have the best start in our lives.

"These moments help. Loved the first goal, loved the second goal which was an incredible cross from Joey. Bobby's there and it makes a difference. You arrive in the moment and have the drive to be at the back of the defender to get the foot on the ball.

"He hit the ball and it goes through the legs. In other games it goes through the legs and goes and you think, 'How can that happen?'

"We have to be in these situations as often as possible. Nothing has changed for Bobby. He always played when fit. He always contributed when he was fit but we have to do it again and again and again."

Stating the obvious

Sure a 7-1 victory away at Rangers is great, but how good a warm-up to Man City will it be for Liverpool? Klopp is not getting carried away.

"With all respect to Rangers, we know it's a big gap between Rangers and Man City," he reminded journalists. "We have to prepare the game in a different way but with aspects of that and using the positive feeling we have. That alone will not give us anything against City."

The German also admitted that, 'First goal conceding is a concern,' and suggested that Man City's trip to Anfield could still be decisive in the title-race once again this year... "Just not with us!" he joked.

And one thing we didn’t learn…

Unsurprisingly Klopp wasn't given much away in terms of injury news against Man City, only saying he's yet to find out who will be available to face Pep Guardiola's side.

"We have to see. There are no final decisions with that," Klopp said when quizzed for injury news. "We still have to figure out who is available after the Rangers game for the City game. Then we will make a line-up. We have to see who we can line-up on Sunday. We cannot make decisions and say everyone is available. They're not."

Given the 10.30am press conference start time, one could take this timing to be rather deliberate to ensure there was new update to share, given the sides don't play until Sunday afternoon. However, it could also be possible that the German's side-stepping of such issues suggests his side have indeed suffered yet another injury which he is currently not wanting to make public knowledge.

Whichever media briefing tactic he is following, it also prevented the the German from being asked about anything Guardiola might say at his own pre-match press conference as the Reds boss looked to avoid creating any unnecessary headlines. Very clever, LFC!

Hopefully such an answer was not the German's way of covering up further injuries. After all, they've had enough of that this month with Arthur Melo and Luis Diaz new long-term absentees and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip being sidelined too. Meanwhile,. Calvin Ramsay's recent absence from squads and training suggests the young Scot could have suffered a new setback too.

But at least Ibrahima Konate made his first start of the season while Andy Robertson made his own injury return against Rangers. Barring any negative reactions, the latter pair should be available again to face City.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also back in training for the first time earlier in the week, though Liverpool won't rush him back. Curtis Jones was also involved so could be nearing a return to matchday squad duty, but we're no closer to finding out when Naby Keita will make his own return.

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