Jurgen Klopp stood with reporters to discuss the highs and lows of his side’s performance after Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Tranmere on Tuesday night.
Klopp witnessed a mixed display from the Reds at Prenton Park, as they recorded their second victory of pre-season but this time only through a one-goal margin.
Rafa Camacho opened the scoring early in the first half, before Sheyi Ojo doubled the lead from a tight angle and Adam Lallana blasted home from close range to cap a strong first half.
But errors from Loris Karius and Pedro Chirivella after the break allowed Rovers to reduce the deficit, ensuring a less flattering scoreline than Saturday’s 7-0 mauling of Chester.
Speaking after the game, Klopp moved to defend Karius for his latest mistake, urging the press to not scrutinise his No. 1’s every move.
Meanwhile, he reserved high praise for 18-year-old academy talent Camacho, who has impressed out of position at right-back so far, and the efforts of both Ojo and Ryan Kent as they aim for a first-team berth.
“Yeah, Ryan as well. Rafa especially in a position he’s not used to playing,” he said when asked how he rated the trio’s impact.
“He played a few times for Stevie as a wing-back, now he’s a proper full-back but with good organisation, so he can do that.
“I like it, he’s full of football joy obviously, and he’s doing really well.
“Ojo and Ryan maybe didn’t have the best last year, but they came here and really wanted to show something, and they do—training is good. So I’m fine.”
Discussing the futures of Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge, who failed to find the back of the net after the break despite a bright showing from the latter, Klopp was less emphatic.
“They have all the quality, you can see that, you saw it four or five days ago that they are all really good football players, but it’s not to show and we have our ideas,” he said.
“The boys, we need them. We play the games, we have the training sessions, they are nice fellas so it’s nice to have them around and then let’s see how it fits at the end.”
While he added that “my door is that wide open” and “everybody has a place,” with no assurance over their futures it seems they will be moved on come August 9.
Klopp also discussed the early showings of Naby Keita and the benefits of Liverpool’s tour of the north-west, with their next friendly coming at Bury on Saturday.
The Reds will then head to the United States for the International Champions Cup, where they will be joined by Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and, potentially, summer target Xherdan Shaqiri.
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