Klopp discusses defensive injuries, Luis Suarez and the World Cup ahead of Brighton game

Premier League
Saturday 02 December 2017 - 3:00 pm
Falmer Stadium
Brighton1
5Liverpool
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30'Can ⚽️
32'Firmino ⚽️
48'Firmino ⚽️
⚽️ Murray51'
Bruno61'
Bruno off, Schelotto on ↔️77'
80'↔️ Salah off, Oxlade-Chamberlain on
87'Coutinho ⚽️
88'↔️ Firmino off, Solanke on
89'own goal ⚽️
90'↔️ Henderson off, Grujić on
Possession %
4258
Total Shots
612
Shots on Target
26
Shots Blocked
13
Offside
2
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The Liverpool boss covered a wide variety of footballing topics in his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's Premier League game v Brighton.

He was asked about the appointment of Sam Allardyce at Everton and seemed pleased that their manager issue had been solved

With Sam I have a bit of a history from when he was at Sunderland - he said something after the game. I'm not sure - then he had to row back but not for me but because it was in public.  He's had a holiday, recharged the batteries and is back on track.  I'm happy for him - it's good for us when Everton is in a good moment but they shouldn't be in a better moment than us.  It's good for the city.

Klopp was asked about Mo Salah, his impressive goalscoring form but Klopp pointed out the nature of the team game.

I am a very positive person but we talk always about the last game - I'm only interested in the next game.  He is in a good moment and hopefully he will stay in a good moment.  It's a different intensity to Italy but he has adapted well. This is what we were hoping for when we signed him.  As with all players in the world you need the other players to be in the right situations.

He was repeatedly asked to compare him to Luis Suarez

I'm not interested.  I respect Luis Suarez a lot he was a fantastic player he still is a fantastic player but he isn't a Liverpool player anymore and it's not like I have to compare players.  We have a lot of players who have big impacts on games.

Turning to the weekend's opponents - and a new place for the Liverpool boss to visit:

I'm not new in the league anymore but there a few places I haven't been yet so I always try to find out a bit about the city and stuff like this and yesterday I found that we have a Brighton supporters club - I watched the video and it was very nice - to all of you thank you for your support.

The other thing is that Brighton are a really strong side - they have all the things you have when you get promoted after a difficult period and then you do it the next year.  Really strong group of players and new signings.  Together with the manager it fits really well.  They have quick wingers.  They can defend deep and together.  They can play long balls and play football as well.  They've had some good results already this season.  For Man City, or Man Utd it was not easy.

The boss was also asked about squad selection plans over the next month:

At the moment there are not too many problems but in every training session the players have to show me how much they want to be involved.  A lot of things have influence over my decision.  The best thing is that you have 24 players to think about - unfortunately that's not always the case.

I'm happy to have a team that makes it more likely (for us to win games).  It's not that I'm a genius or whatever or other managers of other teams lower in the league are worse.  I have a good team around me.  There should be no doubt about motivation - we want to achieve the maximum this season.  When City keep on winning like they do then there is no chance for anybody but our situation is good enough to work with but it doesn't make our next game easier.

Turning specifically to who is unavailable for this game, he said:

It looks like Joel Matip is out - after the game he felt something.  We have to make a final assessment but it doesn't look like he is available.  Adam Lallana still building up the fitness.  Klavan was ill - hopefully he isn't anymore because of the Matip situation.  We don't have a big choice to make in defence.

It's how it is with midweek games - you don't have much time to recover from these normal in game knocks.

And finally Klopp was asked about this afternoons World Cup draw and if any of the players had mentioned it.

Not to me.  I will get the information about the groups and then forget it apart from the England and Germany groups.  All the other groups I will not know till the summer of 2018.

Liverpool take on Brighton at the AMEX Stadium tomorrow at 3pm.

VIDEO: Klopp pre-Brighton press conference

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