Jurgen Klopp Insists Liverpool Are Not Here to Give Opportunities Ahead of Europa League Opener

Jurgen Klopp was keeping his cards close to his chest when it came to who could start at LASK on Thursday, but he did make it known that Liverpool are not here “to give opportunities.” The Reds’ Europa League campaign gets underway on Thursday at LASK, with the competition prompting many to expect wholesale changes for Liverpool.

Ben Doak is one of a handful of players who have been expected to benefit from a season in the Europa League, along with the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher. In the build-up to the Europa League opener the manager has insisted that he will not be “experimental,” and he doubled down in his press conference.

“Absolutely no information about that,” Klopp said of his team news during Wednesday’s press conference. “You have to wait until tomorrow, have a look at the lineup and enjoy it or don’t. Accept it and then we go. We are here to compete, not to give opportunities,” he insisted. “For nobody. Not for us and not for them. It’s not about that. We want to fight.”

Klopp’s words certainly suggest we will see a stronger side than many expected, even with West Ham‘s visit to follow less than 72 hours after the match finishes in Austria. Virgil van Dijk is one name we can expect to see on the team sheet after missing the last two games due to suspension, and the hint Klopp was offering means we could also see the likes of Alisson and Mohamed Salah in the XI.

“We are really here to play football, we take this seriously,” Klopp said of Thursday’s opponents. “We are not arrogant, we want to compete and win here.”

Liverpool’s Europa League Squad

Liverpool have named a strong squad for their Europa League campaign, with Klopp having plenty of options at his disposal. The likes of Van Dijk, Salah and Alisson will be joined by experienced campaigners such as James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino, while youngsters such as Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will also be looking to make an impact.

The Reds have also included several promising youngsters in their squad, with Ben Doak, Neco Williams and Caoimhin Kelleher all hoping to get some game time this season. With Klopp having made it clear that he won’t be using the Europa League as an opportunity to give players a chance, it will be interesting to see who he selects for Thursday’s opener against LASK.

Liverpool’s European Ambitions

Liverpool have enjoyed plenty of success in Europe over the years, with the Reds having won the Champions League and UEFA Cup in recent times. However, they have not been able to replicate that success in the Europa League, with their last appearance in the competition coming back in 2015/16 when they were knocked out by Sevilla in the round of 16.

This season could be different though, with Klopp having assembled a strong squad capable of challenging for honours in Europe. The Reds will be looking to make a statement against LASK on Thursday, and they will be hoping that they can go on to enjoy a successful campaign in the competition this season.

Conclusion

Jurgen Klopp has made it clear that he is not here to give opportunities ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League opener against LASK on Thursday. The Reds have named a strong squad for the competition, with experienced campaigners such as Virgil van Dijk, James Milner and Roberto Firmino all included.

Klopp will be hoping that his side can make a statement against LASK on Thursday, and they will be looking to go on and enjoy a successful campaign in the competition this season. With Liverpool having plenty of quality at their disposal, they will be confident of making an impact in Europe this season.