Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has stressed the importance of competition for places in his squad, saying “every player is important and every player is involved”.
Much has been made of the improved depth within the Reds’ squad this season, with Klopp’s men making an impressive start to the campaign.
The likes of Joel Matip, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane have already proven to be successful signings, and there are now good options from the substitutes’ bench for the first time in years.
Loris Karius‘ arrival has meant genuine competition in goal, while Ragnar Klavan has brought experience and extra quality at the back.
Klopp says there is a togetherness within the squad, regardless of each player’s role in it, with fringe players crucial to the success of the team.
“They are all involved all the time – that’s how it is,” Klopp told the written press on Thursday.
“With no cup game in the middle of the week we always have a week for training and we work together to try to have a high intensity in all parts of the game – concentration, readiness, levels, all this stuff.
“Every player is important for this and every player is involved. I don’t say this to keep them cool and calm – it is the truth.
“If we stop working hard on this part of the game then we cannot make the next step that we 100% have to do.
“With starting line-ups we always talk about the present, the moment, but we all have to be ready for anything that can happen in the next two or three weeks.
“It is very important they are all in very good shape and that’s how it is in this moment.”
It is hugely pleasing to see Liverpool have so many options throughout their squad now, having relied too much on a strong starting eleven under the likes of Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers.
Not since Gerard Houllier’s time at the club during the early 2000s has there been such a wealth of quality, and the hope is that it helps inspire the Reds to a first ever Premier League title in 2016/17.
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