The Reds boss does not want to see big-name departures at Anfield
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that one of his biggest objectives, aside from winning silverware, is to ensure the Reds’ best players stay put at Anfield.
The club have had to see both Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling depart Liverpool for a combined fee of over £120 million in recent seasons, after they agonisingly missed out on the league title three seasons ago.
However, Klopp wants to make the Reds a club that the biggest names want to win silverware at, rather than a stepping stone to go on to play for clubs regularly winning league titles across Europe and competing in the Champions League.
Suarez has won numerous pieces of silverware during his time at Barcelona, including La Liga and the Champions League, while Sterling’s time at City saw him beat the Reds to the League Cup this season, in the final.
But first of all, Klopp must return Champions League football to the club, and ensure his side compete with the league’s big spenders.
“I think we can do this. It’s one of the targets for the coming years,” Klopp admitted.
“There hasn’t been a successful team in world football who change their squad every year. You need to need your key players.
“That’s a very important thing. You have to create a situation where you are successful.
“A situation where everyone feels in a good way and we are strong enough and patient enough to keep them together.
“We say that same squad and consistency creates success.”
Philippe Coutinho is the first big name Klopp may have to tempt to stay at Anfield, with Barcelona ready to return for another of Liverpool’s star players.
But it is no secret that Klopp is a managerial favourite with most, in not all, the players he has worked with in the past, and Reds fans will hope his charm and charisma can tempt the likes of Coutinho to stay on Merseyside for the long term.
