Klopp: Liverpool Playing for Premier League Title

Starting articles these days usually involves references to Naby Keïta Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool's efforts to sign him. Do you believe that Dejan Lovren is fortunate to be considered Liverpool's starting centre back? Do you believe that a big defensive signing may add the necessary leadership and galvanising influence that this great club so ardently needs? If so, welcome to the tortured moments of contemplation of this perplexed scribe.

In the era of the top six with five of this group set to be involved in Champions League campaigns, aiming for the Premier League summit may be one of the only way to guarantee at least a top four finish. Something about stars and moons come to mind. In any case, Jürgen Klopp confirmed that aiming for the top is indeed the goal this season.

"We will be playing for the championship," Klopp affirmed. "That’s what we did last season, we were fourth, and you don’t start a season without any ambitions. We have a very good team, we had a bit of bad luck last season and I think we can play a little bit better.

"Let’s hope that everything will work very well. We have to work very hard and we’re doing that and it’s very important to see what we can achieve tomorrow, against Bayern. They are an absolutely top team, it doesn’t matter which team they play.

"In my experience they’re always a tough team to play and I’m excited to see what team he [Ancelotti] will have."

This may be preliminary talk ahead of the Audi Cup, but Liverpool are set to go for it. A couple of significant signings will naturally help these ambitions, but it's heartening to see the manager lead with grand declarations. Whether such words are realistic, however, will be assessed in due course.