Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the club will spend in the transfer window to improve on a disappointing season, but he reacted angrilyto behind-the-scenes criticism of the club.
Klopp’s boys came close to an unprecedented quadruple last season, winning the FA Cup and League Cup before falling just short to Manchester City in the Premier League and losing 1-0 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
However, Liverpool’s chances of winning a trophy this season are already over.
They are 27 points behind leaders Arsenal in sixth place, having been eliminated early in the domestic cups and reaching the last 16 of the Champions League. They travel to Manchester City on Saturday.
A top-four finish is all that Klopp’s side can now salvage from the campaign, but he said criticism of the club’s medical and physical preparation was misplaced despite the role injuries to key players have played in a difficult season.
“(This season is) an anomaly but I would prefer we were still in the Champions League spot,” said Klopp on Friday.
“It doesn’t change overnight, you don’t lose all our brains and fitness and medical (department).
“Things happen and then you have to react, but when you are a little bit unlucky in this direction then it’s really difficult and the league is running away at that moment.
“That is where we were. The football part, we didn’t deal well enough with setbacks through the season.”
Attention has already turned to how Liverpool will strengthen in the summer, with Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham reportedly their top target.
Klopp said positive talks with players had taken place during the international break but refused to put a number of how much he will need to spend to get back in the hunt for trophies.
