Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 8y

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp not interested in Alberto Moreno criticism

LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp says he would have signed a left-back this summer had he found a "perfect fit" but insists he has not paid any attention to the criticism of Alberto Moreno.

Moreno has come under fire after a poor performance in Sunday's 4-3 win over Arsenal, in which he conceded a penalty for a rash challenge and was found to be out of position for Theo Walcott's opening goal.

Asked what he made of Moreno's performance at a news conference ahead of his side's trip to Burnley on Saturday, he said: "We do this all time when somebody was not too good that we talk about it in a press conference? That's cool. I'm looking forward to it.

"He was involved in the penalty situation, right? So that's something of course. We always spoke about how we can defend differently because the situation was cleared two times before the penalty situation.

"In my opinion, we could have avoided this situation in five or six times before and that it came to the situation where Alberto could have done better -- that's right. But that's all.

"I don't really understand what we are talking about. Are we talking about Alberto Moreno because he did not defend so good in the game against Arsenal?

"I told you a lot times that I cannot be interested in criticism of other people. Alberto played, so there should be a reason [for that] and that's what I'm thinking about, not what other people want me to think about a player."

Liverpool have welcomed seven new faces to Anfield this summer, but none of those recruits have been specialised left-backs, with James Milner being used frequently in that position throughout the preseason.

"We have to make decisions and the most comfortable thing in this situation is having three players for every position, so one can get injured, and if another gets injured during a game, you still have an option," Klopp said.

"It's not about being risky on one position or something like this. It's how it is with all other positions -- finding the perfect fit.

"It's not about money, only about playing style, defending skills, offensive skills and technical skills. If we would have found this, then I think you would know because we would have made a transfer.

"We have a lot of players in our opinion who can play, in our style, at left full-back. You can say 'they are not left-backs,' but we are not blind.

"What I hear now is that a lot of people aren't happy with the solution of Alberto Moreno there. Well, I'm sorry about this. Milly [Milner] can player there, and he played really good if you saw the Barcelona game. I had a talk with him and asked him what his opinion is on it.

"He's an experienced player and I don't want to force a new position on a player. I don't want to say 'you have to do this,' I want players to be convinced by themselves.

"Clyney has played it. We have a wonderful young player in Trent Alexander-Arnold who plays right full-back. Ragnar Klavan, on a very defensive day, he can play left full-back. We have a lot of options and you can say 'take another one' -- that's possible but only if it really is the guy we want."

He added: "You have to build a squad where everyone sees the perspective to play. The problem with transfers is that nobody cares about the players who are still here. What should we do with them? Put them away somewhere? It's about commitment.

"If we expect commitment from the players, we have to show commitment too. It's about work and development. Football is a game you cannot play without making mistakes."

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