Jürgen Klopp addressed reporters at Melwood on Monday ahead of Liverpool’s EFL Cup second-round clash with Burton Albion.
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Liverpool dominated possession against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday but could not find enough quality in attack, and they paid the price with a 2-0 defeat.
Liverpool reached the League Cup final last season only to be beaten by Manchester City, and Klopp hopes to go one better this time around.
As most Premier League sides tend to rest some of their first-team players for the early rounds of the League Cup, Tuesday’s tie may serve as the ideal opportunity for Origi and others now in the background at Anfield to show Klopp that no further incomings are required.
“Of course we will make changes”, Klopp said. It depends a little bit on what the doctor will tell me, but it’s not really likely that we will change seven or eight positions or something like this – I’m not sure we could do it, it’s not the plan.
“Losing games are never off-days, but of course we have to take it”, he said.
Burton are managed by Nigel Clough, who expects the side he played for from 1993-96 to continue improving under Klopp.
“We have analysed Burton”.
“I would expect a 3-5-2 system, which is what they have played in the last few games”.
“Saturday was clear, we could have played another 20 mins and not scored”.
“We have a few [players] who are now in a good shape and they have two weeks more preseason, two weeks more to train”. But we have to give players a chance, and if we think they can help us, we will make changes. “But then we have to use our skills in the most decisive area”.
“We have another day, today is not the highest intensity of training – it’s not possible”.
“The only thing a player can do is work as hard as possible, to perform in each session and then the manger has to make a decision”.
Saturday’s defeat led to instant demands from supporters for Klopp to strengthen his squad ahead of the August 31 transfer deadline but Liverpool’s manager, who has been seeking a new left back this summer, refused to reveal his hand.
“No real injuries, a few little issues if you want”, the Reds boss continued. I like these games, that’s how it is, even when I lost a few finals I always like the [journey] there and having the atmosphere around the final.
“In this moment I would say they are all available which were available last week, plus maybe one or two players if we need them”. It’s a nice story they wrote the last two or three years with getting promoted each year and that’s really good.
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Glenn is ESPN FC’s Liverpool correspondent.
