Liverpool vs. Southampton: Jurgen Klopp's Key Comments from Pre-Match Presser

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted Daniel Sturridge and Christian Benteke can form a potent strike force for the Reds, but he is unsure whether they’ll be unleashed as a pairing against Southampton on Sunday.  

Friday’s press conference was the German’s third media briefing in as many days and just hours on from his side’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. Klopp was asked about his attacking options ahead of the clash against Saints this weekend and whether the two star centre-forwards could work in tandem.

It’s a dynamic Klopp admitted he was excited about, but he stressed the importance of having balance in the team, per Hamish Mackay of the Daily Mirror:

"

All good players can play together. It depends how they work for the team. We cannot play with two or three offensive players if they stay up front and we defend with only seven.

When they are fit, that’s when I really have to think about this. But for sure they can play together. We have to think about how we can do the rest of the team.

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However, it seems as though Sturridge, who has missed both of Klopp’s games in charge of the club with an injury, is a big doubt for Sunday’s match, per the official Liverpool Twitter feed:

Looking back to Thursday’s disappointing Anfield debut, the former Borussia Dortmund manager encouraged his players not to be as wasteful in front of goal when chances do come around. 

“I saw many good things last night,” Klopp said, per Mackay. “The last moment was not good enough. ... I don’t think we will make the same mistakes twice.”

He also spoke about why the Reds’ lack of ingenuity in attacking positions is little to worry about at the moment, despite stating some players “were so stiff in their mind,” per Mackay:

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It’s not easy to compare completely different things but in my first season at Dortmund we had 15 draws. If you want, it’s a half win. We didn’t lose. I see the pressure on the players, missing this chance or that chance.

But it’s only important that you always make the right decision in the right moment. They have the quality to finish, to create chances.

"

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Many expected there to be an immediate upturn in Liverpool’s fortunes when Klopp took over. While his amicable aura has gone a long way to stirring those supporters on the terraces, who had become almost melancholic in their backing of the team, things haven’t quite clicked into gear as of yet for the Reds.

However, Klopp insisted that’s no different to what he expected when taking on the job, per Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo:

Aside from Sturridge's perennial problems, Klopp had positive news on the injury front for Liverpool supporters ahead of the weekend’s game, revealing summer signing Roberto Firmino will be ready to play a part, per Carl Markham of the Associated Press:

Saints showed their quality on the road with an impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge prior to the international break. Klopp offered some insight as to how the Reds may look to get the better of what is a well-balanced team, but he admitted he’s been limited for time in his analysis of them, per Mackay:

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Of course we started to analyse Southampton this morning. Our pre-match we were together for an hour. I know much more about Southampton after I watched the game against Chelsea. Not too bad.

We have to look at all our players after a very intense game. Obviously their strength is good organisation, they try to press high with six players and four stay a little bit deeper. We have to play football, if we can’t we have to play long balls, that’s what they do.

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After a couple of draws in his opening two games, Klopp will be itching to get that first victory secured, especially with a tough run of matches coming up. Southampton are a team who are organised, energetic and carry a big attacking threat, though, making Sunday’s showdown at Anfield a very difficult one to call.

Still, the atmosphere should be bristling with excitement for the German’s first home league match in charge, and it’s an excellent chance for the Reds to steal some ground on a team likely to be battling alongside them for a European spot this term. Perhaps more importantly, once that first win is in the books, Klopp will have some much sturdier foundations to build from.