5 talking points from jurgen Klopp’s pre-Villarreal press conference

5 talking points from jurgen Klopp’s pre-Villarreal press conference.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp gave updates on Roberto Firmino injury updates and lavishes praise for Naby Keita and Thiago ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Villarreal.

Here are 5 talking points from Klopp’s pre-match press conference…

A reminder

Liverpool FC (photo by Getty images)

Jurgen klopp gave an impressive press conference, saying a 2-0 lead from the first leg was job done for Liverpool.

“When I was younger I would have been really angry now,” he replied, “because of the question!”

“If it would be a cup game, only one game and it would be decided and we would have to go to Villarreal, we would try to win there.

“That’s what we want to try there. Knowing that they will go with all they have.”

What he expects from Villarreal

jurgen Klopp is expecting a high-intensity game from the hosts.

“We have to be ready to play a top, top, top, top game, because they will go for us,” he said.

“High press, they will try to play much more football than we allowed them in the first game.

“Because of changing eight players and two [only] playing 45 minutes, I’m pretty sure yesterday they had a normal session.

“So Unai will for sure try to adapt a few things to our style in this short spell. It will be really interesting, definitely.”

More praise for Keita

klopp spoke on Naby Kieta’s consistency in fitness during the run-in, and how he has established himself as one of Liverpool’s best players.

“Long may that continue, because that’s crucial, that’s key to everything,” Klopp said on the shape his No. 8 is now in.

“If you have the talent and the skills of Naby Keita and you are not fit, then nobody sees it.

“If you then come back, not in the best possible shape, all these kinds of things, that’s normal, physically.

“The player was never in doubt for a second, because he’s outstanding.

“But no, it’s good that he is now available. It’s a good option, a very good option to have.

“He played on the weekend obviously a really good game, so we will see how often we will use him tomorrow.”

No Roberto Firmino

Firmino will miss his fifth consecutive game due to a foot injury, though firmino will be traveling with the reds.

“Bobby is now running, so it’s OK,” he explained.

“I said it’s nothing serious, it’s not serious [but] very painful.

“[He has] a little strain on the middle foot bone – at least how we’d say in Germany. It’s very painful, each step, but he was running again today.

“He will travel with us, but will not be involved in the squad yet. But we hope sooner rather than later.”

Divock Origi is now back from illness, however, with “no concerns” among Klopp’s squad other than Firmino.

Thiago is, undoubtedly, one of the best and most talented players in the Liverpool squad – and he is now showing it more consistently than he ever has for the club.

In other news, Jurgen Klopp makes bold claim about Liverpool superstar who’d start for ‘each team in the world’