Jurgen Klopp maintains that he is more than willing to make tough calls on his squad as Liverpool look for a solution for their ailing form at the start of 2023.
The German has been such a talismanic figure in this outstanding era for Liverpool.
Building the squad bit by bit from a very low base and turning the supporters from doubters to believers again.
Like anything in life, there have been some bumps along the away but the triumphs have been truly seismic as the Reds reclaimed their place atop the Premier League and Europe again.
While Liverpool fell just short of winning a unprecedented four trophies last campaign, it looked for all intents and purposes that despite the miles on the clock, this squad had a fair bit more to give.
While the average age was creeping up, some younger additions were brought in to freshen up the squad and keep everyone on their toes.
However, this season has been the perfect storm, a swathe of injuries to key players and the rapid decline in some other members of the squad leading to a great deal of inconsistency.
In truth, this season the team has morphed into the Liverpool team of the late 90s and early 2000s, more than capable of defeating teams such as Man City, Newcastle and Tottenham and just as likely to lose to Nottingham Forest or Leeds.
If there is one criticism of Klopp among some sections of the fanbase, it is that he remains fiercely loyal to long term members of the squad and is very reluctant to call time on their spell at the club when it seems the clear thing to do.
Speaking ahead of the 3rd round FA Cup replay against Wolves this evening, Klopp said he is more than aware of that suggestion but refuted it as the BBC reported.
“Yes, of course I have heard it. I heard that before and I am not, I am loyal. I think everybody should be loyal, but I am not too loyal.
“The problem is too complex. You have a good player who did a lot of good things in the past and then in your mind [you think] maybe that's it for him.
“If you can then go out and bring in another player to replace [him] that makes sense.
"If you cannot bring anybody in you cannot bring anybody out. That is the situation."
When a team is having a sustained dip of form or individuals making similar errors game after game, naturally there is speculation whether the players have stopped listening to the message and start doing their own thing.
Again, Klopp did not think that was the case.
"I was not that often in a similar situation, but I know exactly how it works when things don't go well.
"There is a list of things you go through and one of the things is the players aren't listening to the coach any more.
"In Germany we say the manager doesn't reach the team any more. So I understand it looks like this sometimes but it is just not the case. You can take that off the list."
For now, Klopp is comfortable to stick with the players at his disposal although he did allude to the fact that there may be a change of approach to things in the summer.
The manager has put his faith in this group once more, now it is down to the players who take to the pitch to follow through and repay it.
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