DYNASTY Defence is now focus for Klopp
A side that will never be forgotten. Sir Alex Ferguson’s Old Trafford side completed a historic Treble after claiming the Premier League, followed by FA Cup and Champions League success in the Nou Camp.
The Premier League and League Cup winners came close to defending their Champions League crown but fell to a Lionel Messiinspired Barcelona in the final in Rome.
LIVERPOOL great Jamie Carragher believes Jurgen Klopp will already be thinking about defending the Premier League next season – despite still needing six points to clinch the title. Carragher is tipping the Reds boss to forget about smashing Manchester City’s record
100-point haul so that he can get his squad in top shape to go back-toback next year.
The Anfield side are
25 points clear of rivals City and are on the verge of claiming the Premier League trophy for the first time in their history.
And Carragher (below) said: “Liverpool are very lucky in that their front three are quite robust.
“They don’t miss too many games and they have probably just had the longest rest they have ever had because they seem to play every season.
“Because it’s been so long since Liverpool have won the league, it will be all about ending that
30-year wait when the season restarts.
“Three months ago, before Liverpool lost at Watford, it would have also been about trying to go the season unbeaten and breaking records.
“But if I was in Klopp’s position now I would almost be tempted to think about next season.
“Once the title is clinched, they haven’t got that much to play for.
“Other teams will be fighting for the top four, to qualify for Europe, or to avoid relegation. Because there is such a quick turnaround for next season, I think that once the league is won then Jurgen Klopp might use the remaining games to prepare for next year.
“Even though Klopp will want to clinch the title, I think it will be in his mind to also prepare for next season rather than worry too much about breaking things like points records.
“Getting the title won is important – but so is trying to win it again next year.”
Meanwhile, Carragher believes Chelsea’s new £50million signing Timo Werner was destined for Liverpool before the coronavirus crisis handed Klopp the chance to give Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane a break.
With next January’s African Cup of Nations increasingly likely to follow the Euros, Olympics and Copa America by being postponed, Werner’s game-time for the Premier League champions-elect would have been severely impacted next season.
Carragher feels that enabled Frank Lampard to convince the RB Leipzig striker to ditch his ambition to play for Klopp to join the Stamford Bridge revolution.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “I honestly believe that if the pandemic hadn’t happened then Timo Werner would have been a Liverpool player.”