Jurgen Klopp Says Liverpool Are Taking the Next Step

The news of Liverpool’s imminent signing of Alisson Becker from AS Roma hit me right between the eyes with it’s brilliant sunshine. What a statement by FSG, breaking the record for total number of handsomest goalkeepers at a single club (2-sorry, Simon). Alisson’s arrival will also cost Liverpool about £66.8million and the Brazilian will go down in the book as the most expensive goalkeeper alive. Summer!

Jurgen Klopp is assembling something at Liverpool. He’s building an exciting, entertaining team that will compete on all fronts to be number one. Last season’s squad was amazing, Champions League final. But, with next season’s squad Klopp intends to take the club up a notch.

Naby Keita arrived, followed by the surprise of Fabinho. The level of talent in midfield rises. Xherdan Shaqiri is brought it for attacking depth behind Mohamed Salah but will be expected to push all the starting forwards for time on the pitch. Nabil Fekir is reportedly still on Klopp’s mind. And now the long-awaiting and nearly-given-up-for-lost arrival on Merseyside of the one and only Alisson.

This transfer window has been good to us.

“I am not 100% sure but maybe it is the first year we don’t sell a key player,” Klopp said.

“There was always a lot of change, but in both directions. Now it is more in one direction. That’s clear.

“Big teams, successful teams, if you don’t buy it you have to build it. That means stay together, bring additions in and make the next step. Stay together, bring additions in, make the next step. That’s how it is.”

This major injection of competition in the squad should bring out all the best stuff in the players. Klopp knows this new level of athletic engagement is vital to Liverpool’s progress and that his time-tested stalwarts can only benefit from the new boys coming in.

“It is not like they say, ‘Bring in another midfielder, why? We are all still here!’” he added. “They know we need the quality and they know that if we win something here then we will win it with 25 players. That is exactly how we feel.

“I am really looking forward to the season. I know it will be long and hard and difficult and all that stuff, but if we are lucky with injuries a little bit and getting one or two penalties at least at Anfield then it should be okay.”

Stay tuned for Alisson medical updates on Thursday. Let’s keep this party rolling.