Jurgen Klopp reveals Liverpool have made ‘positive’ progress on their summer plans

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he used the international break to plan for next season and insisted ‘positive’ progress was made. 

Liverpool return to action on Saturday lunchtime with a trip to Manchester City, before they face Chelsea on Tuesday and Arsenal next Sunday in a crunch week of action.

The Reds currently lie seven points off fourth place Tottenham and face a battle to qualify for the Champions League – although they do have two games in hand on Spurs.

It has been a difficult season at Anfield with the club likely to undergo a significant rebuild in the summer – particularly in midfield with Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount and Matheus Nunes among those linked – as they aim to get back to the heights that saw them come two games away from completing a famous quadruple last season.

And Klopp admitted that him and the club used the international break to get a headstart on summer preparations – with the Reds having not played in 16 days since they crashed out of the Champions League to Real Madrid.

Jurgen Klopp revealed he made ‘positive’ progress on his summer plans during the international break with the Reds having not played in 16 days

Liverpool are in sixth place and are likely to undergo a summer rebuild after a tricky season

‘It was good. The players I couldn’t plan training sessions as we didn’t know who was here, so yes (I did use it as time to get prepared for next season),’ Klopp told his pre-match press conference. 

‘Player side, positive. There are talks, but no decisions. We are busy as you can imagine.’

Klopp also explained his excitement ahead of a huge week of fixtures that could go a long way to deciding their fate this campaign.

He said: ‘It’s like a Champions League week – I know we are out but playing an English team in midweek is like the Champions League.

‘I am super excited absolutely but we are not dumb. We know the last game we played against Madrid was not a good game, before at Bournemouth not a good game, before that (against Man United) was world class. 

‘We have to react to the other two games and pick up from there. We have to show up there and really go for it. You want to play these games.

‘We play City, Chelsea and Arsenal every season but to play them in one week is pretty special. It’s different and now we are here.

‘Most of the boys are healthy and let’s try to help and use them and bring them in the best possible shape.’

Klopp continued: ‘The mini break came at a good time for us. I was ready for a few days without analysing this game again (Madrid) and we don’t even have to talk about it anymore.

This is pertinent in midfield, with Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham a major target

Klopp also insisted he was excited for a ‘Champions League-like week’ over the coming days

‘That’s not where we want to be. I have no problem at getting knocked out by Madrid.

‘You can play there and lose there but we should show more than we did that night. We tried but we couldn’t and I still don’t like the game. 

‘I am ready again, I needed a few days to let it settle and go again. It’s a big two months where we can reach a lot or nothing, we’re already planning next season and it’s an important start for that.’

Klopp also revealed that Naby Keita, Luis Diaz and Thiago would miss the lunchtime kick off at the Etihad, but said Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez should be fit to play.