Jurgen Klopp has explained why he couldn’t sign a centre-back for Liverpool after his side missed out on Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk during the summer transfer window.
Liverpool were strongly linked with a move for the Netherlands international for much of this summer but were forced to put away their interest in him after his side threatened to report them to the FA for approaching the defender illegally.
Last season, defensive issues almost cost Liverpool a top-four spot in the premier league and their defending woes appear to be extending into this new season.
They were thrashed 5-0 last weekend by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and couldn’t hold on to a goal lead during the Champions League game against Sevilla on Wednesday that eventually made them share points with the La Liga side.
And Liverpool boss Klopp has claimed he could not find the perfect option to Van Dijk, and that the defenders he watched can’t add more quality to his team.
“But what if the new [defender] doesn’t hit the first ball and then makes exactly the same mistake?” the German boss queries.
He also defended his current defenders and made known how much trust he has in his squad.
“I had to make a decision and the decision was our boys are not worse than them.
“My job is really to get the best out of these boys.” he added.
