Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool squad future potential and problems Arsenal and Man City could face
Jurgen Klopp is confident Liverpool are in a "really healthy" state as he prepares to hand over the reins to Arne Slot - and doesn't expect the squad to be overhauled this summer.
After almost nine years in charge, Klopp will take charge of the Reds for the 491st and final time on Sunday for the closing Premier League game at home to Wolves.
Liverpool will end the season in third place after regaining their place in the Champions League following last term's disappointing fifth-placed finish, having already won the League Cup and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Europa League.
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And while admitting the squad will need some tinkering as the Reds aim to move closer to title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal next season, Klopp insists the incoming Slot has a strong group of players with which to work.
"I am so happy that we can leave a club in that position where it is a healthy club," he said. "I think we all agree four weeks ago it was a super squad. Four weeks later, we say here and there maybe a little bit (of change) but some other people will make the decision, I don’t expect a clean-out but it is not mine anymore. There is so much potential there.
"So there is a good chance to stay in that group. If you are in the group, that is close enough to make the next step. With new influences. They are important. They are really important. Our football doesn’t have to change completely but can be justified here and there, can be players in different positions, can do this and that, the quality is still there, can still develop, fantastic. Let’s go. And that is really what I like.
"It is not an emergency case and you hear that beep beep beep and it is close to (pretends to be a life support machine and gives one long) beep. It is really healthy, a very vital club with a wonderful training ground, sensational stadium, financially not bad. On roses? We never were. But solid, on a high level. Let’s go from there. That gives me the best feeling."
Klopp added: "That is what I am most proud of, that we could manage that, with all the things that happen over the years, in crazy times, we never overdid it.
"We never tried too hard and then you don’t get the guarantee to reach it then and then you get punished years later - these points deductions and stuff like that, it’s horrible. I am not sure they (clubs who have had points deducted) cheated on purpose but somehow they knew 'hmmmm, it’s probably not 100% right but maybe we can get through that' and obviously they couldn’t. I really like the way we did it."
And Klopp believes both Arsenal and City will have their own issues with which to contend next season even if they continue their progress of recent years.
"Arsenal, young, they can go again," he said. "(But) they will have problems like everyone else. How it is there with the front line, Trossard playing and not Martinelli any more and Gabriel Jesus not playing but Havertz playing. How will that work out? Can he (Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta) really manage that? There are always potential problems.
"If you are successful there are problems, if you are nearly successful there are problems. I thought over the years we dealt really well with it but that is their (the other clubs) challenge. Pep (Guardiola) will not stay forever there at City so even De Bruyne gets older, Bernardo Silva gets older, Phil Foden plays another 12 years of course, Haaland, blah blah blah."