Klopp Dispels Liverpool Midfield Issues Ahead of Wolves FA Cup Clash

Klopp Dispels Liverpool Midfield Issues Ahead of Wolves FA Cup Clash

Elijah Odetokun
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:22 PM
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  • Liverpool will be in action in the third round of the FA Cup against Wolves later tonight
  • Jurgen Klopp's men come off the back of a 3-1 Premier League loss to Brentford
  • The German claims the team's problems are not down to their midfield issues only

Liverpool are having a stuttering season in Jurgen Klopp's seventh season at the club, and the problems don't seem to go away very soon or even unidentified as the team appears to be functioning but not getting results.

The departure of Sadio Mane and recurring injuries to key players have limited the team in areas of strength, especially midfield and on the wing, two positions Klopp sets his team up to go through.

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, FA Cup, Wolves, Anfield, England.
Klopp says Liverpool have a general problem, not specifically a midfield problem. Photo by Clive Brunskill.
Source: Getty Images

The former Dortmund manager downplayed the frailties of his midfield in how the team conceded a lot lately, believing it's not a problem one new midfielder will solve, but the problem of the whole team.

Klopp dispels Liverpool's midfield issues

Speaking ahead of the club's FA Cup third round match against Julen Lopetegui as quoted by Liverpool Echo, he is not having talks of midfield problems, he rather put it down to organisation and balance.

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''It's a general problem, not a midfield problem. Defending starts up front, if you don't defend there then the midfield has no chance. Balance might be a problem… Before that, it's all about organisation,'' he said.

Liverpool are linked with a summer move for Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes as reported by Caught Offside, and Klopp believes only one midfielder could sort the exaggerated midfield issue.

''It's not so much that one midfield player could sort that, it's about us doing it collectively in the right manner. The way we want to defend is clear, that will never change. Am I completely happy with the play? No, definitely not. But it's not a midfield problem, it's a general thing,'' he added.

Van Dijk out for over a month

Liverpool's defensive woes is further compounded by hamstring injury suffered by ace defender Virgil Van Dijk, who was substituted at half-time against Brentford.

Sports Brief earlier reported that the injury is worse than first feared and the Dutch defender will be out for more than a month, in another blow for Klopp amid ongoing defensive crisis.

As revealed by Sky Sports, Liverpool signed Van Dijk for then record £75m from Southampton five years ago, and has brought leadership and stability to a successful era under the German tactician.

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Elijah Odetokun photo
Elijah Odetokun
Elijah Odetokun is Reuters-trained journalist with three years of experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria, OmaSports and El Futbolero.
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