Klopp Won’t Hesitate to Axe Underperformers, Impressed by “Unpredictable” Solanke

Set to battle for silverware on four fronts next season, Liverpool are making moves in the transfer market as they try to supplement a squad that wants to do nothing more than add a trophy to Anfield’s already packed cabinet.

“If it stays like this, I would say you should perform if you want to play,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, knowing full well that he has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal. “I cannot decide this, it’s the performance that decides it. Hopefully we have the opportunity to do things like this (rotate). We want to play in three or four competitions as long as even Gary Lineker is happy or whoever,” added the German manager with a salty note of sarcasm. “We want to play football for as long as possible and for this we need players. That’s the situation. Will the squad change before August 31st? Probably, maybe.”

Having already added pacey winger Mohamed Salah from AS Roma and former Chelsea youngster Dominic Solanke on a free transfer, Liverpool look set to add even more players before the transfer window closes at the end of August. Klopp, of course, would prefer to add these players sooner rather than later with the remainder of pre-season still to come and a crucial Champions League qualifier just over the horizon. While it’s only been friendly matches thus far, both of the Reds attacking additions look to be doing well with Salah breaking his duck against Wigan Athletic on Friday and Solanke doing the same against Crystal Palace yesterday.

“It’s a wonderful goal,” said Klopp, full of praise for Solanke. “You need to be unpredictable, especially as a striker. You can be as good as you want, but if you always do what everybody knows you will do then nothing happens. He could have played the pass but he shoots and it was a very good idea,” enthused the German, obviously impressed by Solanke. “He is a good footballer, a smart boy and has a really good attitude, so really happy to have him. It’s nice to have him around, he wants to learn and scoring goals is the best thing he can do.”