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Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool do not need a "massive rebuild"

:Headline: Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool do not need a 'massive rebuild': ID:436994: from db_amp
Twelve of his current squad are 28 or over with nine considered core players.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denies it is time for a rebuild of his squad but admits a top-four finish this season will be a big achievement.

Twelve of his current squad are 28 or over with nine considered core players, with Fabinho, Andy Robertson, Diogo Jota, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones currently the only players who have played a major part under that age.

Only two – Thiago Alcantara and Jota – of Liverpool's last six major transfers could be classed in the category of strengthening Klopp's first-choice XI and both have missed large parts of this season through injury.

September signing Thiago Alcantara has missed a large part of the season through injury (Peter Powell/PA)

A run of two Premier League wins since Christmas has led some critics to suggest the squad needs refreshing after the achievements and workload over the last three years.

Klopp, however, disagrees and pointed to a lengthy injury list for being at the heart of the problem.

"Rebuild? No. What is 'rebuild' exactly? Rebuild means 10 out, 10 in? Changes to which XI?" he said.

"I know what you mean but I don't think it is time for a massive rebuild like how I understand it: six, seven out, running contracts but trying to get rid of them and bring in all the new faces.

"The squad of this year didn't have the chance to play together one time really. I think it would make sense to have a look at that but on top of that, of course little readjustments will happen.

"Reacting on the situation but planning at the same time for the future and all these kinds of things.

"I am not sure we can do that in the summer but that is what we will try."

A return of nine points from a possible 33 since thrashing Crystal Palace 7-0 on December 19 has seen the defending champions fall from first to sixth which has left them in a battle for the top four.

And when asked to assess the achievement of qualifying for the Champions League in the face of an injury list which shows no signs of easing – after captain Jordan Henderson was ruled out for at least a month after a groin operation – Klopp said: "Big. Yes it would. Absolutely.

"You can see the competitors. Look, it is not about the possible performance.

“We know that performance-wise we are not that far away, but results-wise we are.”
- Jurgen Klopp

"The game we played against Leicester (when they conceded three in the last 12 minutes) we lost, but the performance on the day was one with which the team usually wins.

"It is all about results. The table doesn't lie. Never. That is completely fine. We know that performance-wise we are not that far away, but results-wise we are.

"That is what we have to change and for all the different reasons that it was a difficult season so far for us.

"We try with all we have to sort it and while you try and sort one problem another problem occurs. That is in a season when it is not going perfect, obviously."

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1Liverpool108111961325
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3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
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