Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp urges established Liverpool players to step up following summer spree

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 19 August 2018

Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool's established players to step up their performances following the club's heavy investment in the summer transfer window.

Jurgen Klopp has urged Liverpool's established players to step up their performances following the club's heavy investment in the summer transfer window.

The Reds signed Alisson Becker, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri for a combined total of around £175m as they bid to improve on last season's fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

With the Liverpool midfield having been especially strengthened this summer, the players who have been at Anfield prior to the summer will have seen their first-team places under threat.

"We talk about Naby Keita, that's good, he's new. The world is like that. When it's new it's fantastic," Klopp told the official club website. "What you already have [must say] 'yeah, I'm still here too'.

"James Milner made big steps in the last three years, that's the truth. I don't want to judge his career but it feels like it's the best moment of his career.

"Georginio Wijnaldum, no-one speaks about him. He can play the 'six' and the 'eight' in the way I don't know many players can. They don't talk about him.

"We only spoke about these three but Fabinho didn't play a minute so far and we expect big things from him. Adam Lallana, a long time injured. There's Xherdan Shaqiri too."

Liverpool return to action on Monday with a trip to Crystal Palace.