Jurgen Klopp has made an important decision regarding Liverpool's pre-season, the Reds boss has claimed.
Liverpool have had a rough season after being knocked out of three cup competitions they have access to.
The humiliating 6-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League made silver cup fans' last hopes dashed.
With hopes of qualifying for next year's tournament almost gone, the club now languish in seventh place in the Premier League, about 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
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As a result, Klopp is said to be planning a squad overhaul, with the German manager expected to keep an eye on his midfield during the summer transfer market. However, the German also revealed that he plans to start pre-season early and warned his players to 'intensify' their efforts this season.
What did he say?
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Klopp is keen to avoid mistakes ahead of this season, in which the team played just two games in Thailand and Singapore before the Premier League kicked off.
Before the game against West Ham on Wednesday, he said:
"It's never been a perfect pre-season but that's not the reason for our season now because we've had similar pre-seasons before.
"But this year must be different. So now we've had four or five weeks without international football. Usually you play all the time. We play a lot now but I don't know what they will put in the Champions League games [if Liverpool are involved].
“But it is different and that is why we have to increase our efforts. We have to prepare for this in pre-season and that's why I want them to meet as soon as possible, respecting the necessity of the holiday. Advertisement
"I know that and I respect that and I want them to be on vacation for as long as possible, but this year we have to make sure we're together as soon as possible and we can start from scratch. there."
Indeed, international engagements could last until the end of June, with the Nations League final not to be completed until June 18, while England's final qualifying match for the Championship season Europe is scheduled for June 19 meeting North Macedonia.
Klopp has decided that the players will be given a three-week break after the current season is extended by the Qatar World Cup.
“At least three weeks of rest is possible. Then we want to start together, although that may not be entirely possible," Klopp added.
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"We start again on the 8th [July] and for the other [international] boys it will be the 11th."
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