SM
Liverpool vs. Man Utd: 14 hrs 21 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Jurgen Klopp talks up Rhian Brewster's importance this season

:Headline: Jurgen Klopp talks up Rhian Brewster's importance this season: ID:366104: from db_amp
The 19-year-old is set for his breakthrough season with the first team.

If Rhian Brewster lives up to the hype then he will save Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp millions in the transfer window.

The 19-year-old is set for his breakthrough season with the first team after being lined up for more than a year to fill the boots of departed striker Daniel Sturridge.

While the England Under-17 World Cup winner will start as back-up to Roberto Firmino and Champions League hero Divock Origi the promise he has shown already suggests he could have a part to play.

Klopp has a record of promoting youngsters and being immensely loyal to the players who do the business for him on the pitch.

It is why there has been no summer spending splurge to match their Premier League title rivals Manchester City.

Critics will argue after finishing second to Pep Guardiola's side with a record runners-up points tally of 97, now is precisely the time to strengthen, despite losing just one league match and having the top-flight's best defensive record.

But Klopp sees it differently and uses their Champions League victory, the club's sixth European Cup success, as justification for keeping faith in his current crop of players.

Instead he has invested in the future of the club with the arrival of highly-rated Dutch teenager Sepp Van Den Berg for a modest £1.3million, although if the 17-year-old fulfils his obvious potential, the extra £3m in add-ons will still seem like a bargain.

There will be no mega-money splurge similar to the one last summer which saw £175m spent on goalkeeper Alisson Becker, midfielders Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Klopp points to the 'new' players he will have at his disposal in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita.

The former played just 19 minutes in two matches late on last season having been out for a year with ruptured knee ligaments.

Keita struggled with injuries which affected his rhythm and hindered his adaptation to English football and a groin problem prematurely ended his club season in April.

Klopp expects to see an improvement in the Guinea international this time around, even if his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations aggravated his injury.

The responsibility is on Oxlade-Chamberlain to provide the X-factor from midfield.

He is unlike most of the other players Klopp has at his disposal in that department as he provides the drive and attacking threat from deeper positions.

Adam Lallana has been trialled in a deep-lying role in pre-season as Klopp attempts to find a way to get the best out of the injury-prone player.

While he will not dislodge first-choice Fabinho or Jordan Henderson, his creativity from further back could help turn some of seven draws they had into the wins which may edge them ahead of City.

Klopp also has to find suitable cover for left-back Andy Robertson, who is expected to play most matches.

Midfielder James Milner could deputise in the bigger games if necessary but Klopp has been giving youngsters Adam Lewis and Yasser Lerouci a chance to prove their credentials in pre-season, although he has not ruled out dipping into the transfer market for a more experienced option.

amp_article__366104 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-07-26 06:33:19:
html db last update - 2019-07-26 06:33:19 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Jurgen Klopp

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham197842825329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .