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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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1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
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