Klopp’s brave face masks Liverpool’s lack of imagination

Jurgen Klopp is ready to answer questions about Liverpool’s lack of transfer activity; he knows they are coming. He speaks of financial “uncertainty” and reminds us that his club is different from the “country owned, oligarchy” club: they have to function differently. He’s right, of course, but there must be frustration and concern behind the brave face of the audience. Some might ask if he’s laughing.

Can Liverpool afford a season afloat?

If your head is above the surface and all of your rivals are reeling, like last season, then yes, they can. But Klopp’s is a team with little to no room for maneuver; a key injury early in the season will make it difficult they More so than Manchester City or Chelsea, who have superior backup options and will surely not make as many mistakes as they did last year.

Liverpool have an advantage, certainly about Chelsea, in which the nucleus of their group is intimately known – a point Klopp has used in defense of their inactivity.

“You can’t bring in the 11 best players in the world and just hope that a week later they will play the best football they have ever played. It’s about working together in boot camp. That will probably be an advantage for us. We have worked with each other for a long time, but I know people don’t want to hear that. “

But no one is suggesting that Liverpool should come close to the number Chelsea have acquired this summer; it would be totally unnecessary. The truth is that it would be very difficult to improve a position in the first team. Thiago Alcantara would be a bargain option, but an extraordinary amount of money would be required otherwise. Money Liverpool either doesn’t have (which is fine) or is unwilling to spend in the current climate (which is fine too).

It’s the lack of fail-safe options that could be your downfall. In a season where players will face the ground through a dominant match roster, team depth will be more important than ever, and Liverpool’s backs are unproven at best and worst. They just aren’t good enough.

It would be an absolute joy to be a member of Liverpool’s first team right now. “Fresh off” from winning a title, you are a brilliant player with a charismatic coach who leads you into the new season. And it’s virtually no pressure to hold its place. There is no competition.

Takumi Minamino by Roberto Firmino?

Harry Wilson for Mo Salah? Come on.

Sepp van den Berg by Virgil van Dijk? Funny maybe, but hey it is one of the four options in the middle half.

If the first team stay in shape, Liverpool will probably win the Premier League but, as Gary Neville suggests, it would take a “Superhuman effort” and “it would be ridiculous to suggest that there would not be a slight decrease.”

Even with the likely focus on the Premier League and Champions League and the continued disregard for national cup competitions, those 11 players will be wrecked by the turn of the year. And as City rotate Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Jesús, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Ferran Torres, brief five-minute cameos from Divock Origi, Harry Wilson and Minamino will leave all three Liverpool forwards completely exhausted.

Proper replacements wouldn’t bankrupt the bank, and while other parties actively seek to cut and sell unwanted assets for money they don’t have, Liverpool appears to be employing a wait-and-see attitude with the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri. that could see both parties stuck with a solution that doesn’t help either.

And why are there no free transfers? Any of these 12 options it would have improved its staff. They were interested in Ryan Fraser and Thiago Silva would have been a backup man for Van Dijk.

While a reactionary splurge after Chelsea’s incredible deal would be counterintuitive to Liverpool, Klopp and Michael Edwards’ methodical transfer approach, there is still room for a bit of imagination in the market. Offers can be wangled; calculated risks do sometimes it’s worth it; an answer it is permitted.

What was an initially surprising, but understandable, decision to have a quiet window now borders on neglect and myopia. As is the requirement of every Premier League winning coach, Klopp will no doubt remind everyone that retaining the title is more difficult than winning it the first time. In this case, you will be right, but they have made it much more difficult for themselves due to their inaction.

Will ford is on twitter