‘It’s the last domestic cup we haven’t won’: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp feels the Community Clash clash against Premier League champions Manchester City is scheduled too early, but insists ‘it’s very important’
- Liverpool take on rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield on Saturday
- Boss Jugen Klopp has insisted the match is ‘very important’ for his Reds squad
- The Reds have arranged a friendly for after Premier League opener at Fulham
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Jurgen Klopp believes the Community Shield has been scheduled too early for a Liverpool team that didn’t finish last season until the end of May.
Saturday’s season curtain-raiser against Manchester City signals the start of the new campaign as Liverpool try yet again to find a way to overhaul their great modern rivals.
Liverpool manager Klopp said today that he will take the game seriously because he has never won it.
Liverpool will face Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield
Jurgen Klopp believes the Community Shield has been scheduled too early for his team
But added that thought should be given to flexibility surrounding the weekend it is played given his team competed in the Champions League final in Paris on May 28.
‘I like the competition but I think it would be possible to find another date,’ said Klopp.
‘We had a longer season than other teams and now we have a shorter pre-season.
‘It makes not too much sense. Maybe somebody can think about this. But we have to find a way and that’s what we are working on. In two days the season starts again and we are really looking forward to it.
‘It is important as we have played this game a couple of times and it would be nice to win it. It’s the last one that we still have to win.’
The Community Shield is the last domestic cup that the Reds have not won under boss Klopp
Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson at Leicester’s King Power Stadium – where the game will be played – on Saturday. But the Brazilian is training and will be fit for Liverpool’s first Premier League game at Fulham a week later.
Klopp will be without Sadio Mane this season after his move to Bayern Munich but said today that another forward, Roberto Firmino, remains integral.
The Brazilian has been linked with other clubs including Juventus in Italy and only has a year left on his Anfield contract.
But Klopp said: ‘Bobby is crucial for us, the heart and soul of this team. The way we played in the last years was only possible because of Bobby.
‘For me there is no doubt about his quality. All the rest, we will see how it goes. But for me he is essential for us.’
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