Klopp admits rebuild is needed at Liverpool after their 5-2 Real loss

‘It’s clear we have to do something in the summer’: Jurgen Klopp admits a rebuild is needed at Liverpool after their 5-2 Champions League loss to Real Madrid, as the manager says he knew this season would be ‘tricky’ when he signed a new contract

  • Liverpool were comfortably beaten in the Champions League on Tuesday
  • They will face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in their next game on Saturday
  • Jurgen Klopp admitted the Reds need ‘to so something in the summer’ 

Jurgen Klopp has said he ‘knew this season would be tricky’ and chose to sign a new contract accordingly to help rebuild his side, as he spoke ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Reds were beaten 5-2 by Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash on Tuesday.

It came after an apparent resurgence for the club that saw them pick up back-to-back 2-0 league wins against Newcastle and Everton. 

Klopp felt it was important to bring new players in this summer but added that they had to be thoughtful in terms of who they sign.

‘This team has a wonderful history and the way this club is led not splashing money,’ he said. ‘Our transfers always have to be on point. That makes it tricky. I knew that.’ 

Jurgen Klopp has admitted a rebuild is needed at Liverpool after a disappointing first half of the season

The Reds were beaten 5-2 by Real Madrid on Tuesday despite making a strong start in the game

‘It’s clear we have to do something in the summer. Last season was not one for a big change. I knew it would be tricky this season.

‘Imagine this same situation with another coach? [People would say] “Bring back Klopp”. It’s why I signed a new contract. For me it’s not too long [before bringing new players in]. I don’t like to talk about it all the time but I have to think it all the time. I cannot change it.’

The Liverpool boss went on to admit the loss to Real was ‘not acceptable’ but insisted there were positives to take out of the game. 

He said: ‘The first half was a really good half and then the second half was the worst half for us.

‘You can lose to Real Madrid, but I don’t think a lot of teams can cause them the problems we can. There were mistakes, but there was some good stuff that I didn’t see for a long time.’

Vinicius Junior scored twice in the last 16 clash, as Liverpool face a mountain to climb in the second leg

Klopp confirmed that Ibrahima Konate had trained twice after his injury, but warned that players would not be ‘back to their best’ straight away after spells on the sidelines

Klopp added that it was ‘incredibly important’ to finish in the Champions League this season and that ‘all the games from here now are Champions League qualifiers.’

He confirmed that Ibrahima Konate had trained twice after his injury, but that returning players such as Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk will not be ‘back to their best’ straight away.

The manager also anticipated some changes from Tuesday’s team following ‘knocks’ picked up against Real. 

If Liverpool can regroup, the Champions League places are still within their reach. They currently sit just seven points off fourth-place Spurs with two games in hand. 

They travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday evening, a fixture Klopp described as ‘really tough’, to face a Crystal palace side who have drawn four of their last five games.

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