Ian Wright pinpoints Klopp’s Liverpool transfer woe compared with Chelsea and Man City

In pictures: Liverpool v Cardiff

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Ian Wright believes Liverpool have been forced to adopt an astute transfer policy in order to keep up with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. The former Arsenal striker feels the Reds’ recent FA Cup failings are also in part down to the difficulty of assembling a star-studded squad.

Liverpool overcame Cardiff City at Anfield on Sunday to secure their passage to the FA Cup’s fifth round for only the second time in Jurgen Klopp’s tenure.

The Merseyside club have struggled within the competition in recents seasons as the demands of fighting on four fronts have taken their toll in Klopp’s side.

The German has previously received criticised for his approach of prioritising the Premier League and Champions League, which has often seen him field a weakened line-up in England’s domestic cup competitions.

And ITV pundit Wright believes some of Klopp’s troubles can be attributed to the challenge of trying to stay in touch with the financial power of Premier League rivals Chelsea and City in the transfer market.

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Speaking on Klopp’s transfer strategy and Liverpool’s need to rely on the club’s academy in recent seasons, Wright stated: “We have seen the way that Liverpool have done business just to stay in touch with Man City and Chelsea.

“What they’re having to compete with, the signings they’ve made, the players that’ve come through the academy, the players they’ve bought for the academy to then get into the first team, there’s no fat on Liverpool everything is really lean.

“They’re trying to keep up with those teams so sometimes you can see why in the FA Cup they haven’t done well because they have bigger fish to fry.”

Under Klopp, Liverpool claimed a sixth European Cup back in 2019 before ending their 30-year wait for a top-flight league title by clinching the Premier League crown 12 months later.

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Despite such achievements, the Reds last tasted FA Cup success back in 2006 and haven’t reached the competition’s final since 2012.

That year, Chelsea pipped them to the trophy – one of five occasions in which the Blues have lifted the prestigious cup since Liverpool last did.

Since 2006, Manchester City have also added two FA Cups to their growing list of accolades as the pair’s financial pulling power has seen them curate squads packed with star-studded players on mega-money contracts.

The Reds have themselves splashed out on signings in recent years, but have been forced to pad out their first-team squad with shrewd transfers and promote from within, entrusting in a number of academy graduates.

Luis Diaz has become the latest star name to be added to the ranks, arriving in a £50million deal from Porto as Klopp continues to establish the squad depth required to fight on all four fronts.

Liverpool’s transfer policy may differ in a way to that of Chelsea’s or Manchester City’s, however Wright believes the Anfield club have build the foundations for a bright future.

“They’re building something and like I say, they’re doing it properly,” he added.

“They don’t waste their money they buy the right player they target who they want and they get who they want and they all deliver.”

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