Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp says Liverpool could be the team to beat in the forthcoming Premier League season.
Klopp, who was touted as a potential successor to Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, watched on as the Reds swept his side apart, winning 4-0 in a pre-season friendly at Anfield on Sunday thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge, Dejan Lovren, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson.
With just a few days left until the start of the 2014/15 Premier League season, Brendan Rodgers’ side looked in good shape, reproducing some of the thrilling attacking football that lead them to a second place finish last season.
“It’s a great club and they did well last year – I saw it,” Klopp is quoted on Liverpool’s official website as saying.
“If you make the right decisions after you miss [the title] you can be stronger.”
Having lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Rodgers has brought in several new faces to the Liverpool set up.
Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Lovren have come in from Southampton, German midfielder Emre Can was signed from Bayer Leverkusen, Serbian attacker Lazar Markovic from Benfica and full-back Javier Manquillo on-loan from Atletico Madrid. 19-year-old Belgian international forward Divock Origi was also signed Lille, but loaned back out.
The Reds are also said to be moving in on deals for Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno and former Chelsea and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o.
With the increase in games due to Champions League football returning to Anfield this coming season, Rodgers is building a team and squad capable of challenging on two fronts.
“Maybe Liverpool this year is the big team in the Premier League,” Klopp added. “We will see.
“We can play better than we did on Sunday, and Liverpool can play better too. This was not the ideal time to face Liverpool.”
Jurgen Klopp paying homage to Anfield before today’s friendly!! #LFC https://t.co/1kbuY7VCFI
— Liverpool Data (@LiverpoolData) August 10, 2014
Liverpool get their season underway on Sunday when Southampton come to Merseyside.
New signings Lovren and Lambert could play against their former club as the Reds look to get 2014/15 off to a winning start.
Liverpool v Southampton gets underway at 1.30pm on Sunday, 17th August and is live on Sky Sports 1 in the UK.
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