Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident that his team are on track for a Premier League title challenge after their summer signings.
Klopp has already strengthened his squad with the signings of Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri, while Roma goalkeeper Alisson is reportedly close to making a move to Anfield. Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino have re-signed with the club, seeing speculation over their futures – particularly the former’s – ease. Klopp, whose team open their Premier League campaign against West Ham on August 12, said he was glad to see players being added, rather than leaving.
“I am not 100 per cent sure but maybe it is the first year we don’t sell a key player,” the German told UK newspapers. There was always a lot of change but in both directions. Now it is more in one direction. That is clear. Big teams, successful teams, if you don’t buy it you have to build it. That means to stay together, bring additions in and make the next step.”
While others may follow, the departure of Emre Can to Juventus, which was largely expected, has been the only major exit for Liverpool.
Klopp said his squad understood additions were needed to create more depth, as they come off a campaign in which they finished fourth in the league.
“The team and squad is in a really good moment,” he said. We had the situation last season where we had 12 [first-team] players [fit]. They know we need the depth in the squad. They know it. It is not like they say, ‘Bring in another midfielder? Why? We are all still here’. But they know we need the quality and they know that if we win something here then we will win it with 25 players. That is exactly how we feel.”
Liverpool’s first trophy was the Lancashire League, which it won in the club’s first season. In 1901, the club won its first League title, while its first success in the FA Cup was in 1965. In terms of the number of trophies won, Liverpool’s most successful decade was the 1980s, when the club won six League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, five Charity Shields (one shared) and two European Cups.
The club has accumulated more top-flight wins and points than any other English team. Liverpool also has the highest average league finishing position (3.3) for the 50-year period to 2015 and second-highest average league finishing position for the period 1900–1999 after Arsenal, with an average league placing of 8.7. Liverpool has won the European Cup, UEFA’s premier club competition, five times, an English record and only surpassed by Real Madrid and Milan. Liverpool’s fifth European Cup win, in 2005, meant that the club was awarded the trophy permanently and was also awarded a multiple-winner badge. Liverpool also hold the English record of three wins in the UEFA Cup, UEFA’s secondary club competition.
Liverpool’s 2018–19 pre-season kicked off with its second signing (the first being Naby Keïta, a deal finalized before last season) to the squad for the season with the transfer of Brazilian midfielder Fabinho from French club AS Monaco, a deal which became official on 1 July. Liverpool seemed set for their third signing as reliable club sources like journalist Paul Joyce confirmed Liverpool had reached a deal with French club Lyon for their captain, Nabil Fekir. The club, however, while confirming negotiations were ongoing, announced that Fekir would be remaining at Lyon. On 10 July, Liverpool formally announced their third signing of the summer; Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke City, signing him for £13m, his reported release clause.