Jurgen Klopp has stressed the importance of having a good working atmosphere at Liverpool as he looks to keep hold of his stars.
The German has overseen a huge improvement at the Merseyside club since taking the helm in October 2015. After back-to-back top-four finishes in 2016-17 and 2017-18, he almost guided the club to their first Premier League title triumph last term.
Collecting 97 points and losing just once should have been enough, but Manchester City beat them to the title by a single point.
He did deliver a sixth European crown for the Anfield outfit after they beat Tottenham in the Champions League final in Madrid and they are heavily fancied to win silverware again this season.
But it’s imperative that Klopp keeps all his star players happy to ensure they are working together towards the same goal.
The likes of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho have departed in recent years to link up with Barcelona and Klopp is desperate to avoid losing any other big names.
Last summer saw the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah linked with moves away from Anfield although the pair remain part of the set-up at Liverpool.
Klopp feels experiencing success is key to keeping that ilk of player with the Reds and admits it’s also crucial to create a good working atmosphere on the training pitch.
“We have a wonderful atmosphere at Melwood, at Anfield and wherever we go in the world,” Klopp said. “That’s special and we worked hard for that. We have to keep it.
But how can you keep it if you stay only in the same mood? You have to look to the next step, improve, fight as hard as you can, run as much as you can, jump as far as you can. Then you can improve.”
Liverpool’s big problem of late has been keeping youngsters happy due to the competition at first-team level.
Academy product Bobby Duncan recently hit out at the club after he felt he was mistreated when trying to force a move elsewhere.
Duncan, who is the cousin of club legend Steven Gerrard, eventually got his wish and has sealed a switch to Italian side Fiorentina.
Meanwhile, Ryan Kent claims he was “lied” to by Liverpool over his prospects of getting a look-in with the first team this season.
Kent spent last term on loan with Rangers and has returned to the Scottish club on a permanent deal to link up with former Reds captain Gerrard.
