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Klopp’s press conference: Liverpool boss comments on contract situation of star attacker + latest injury news

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By Rohan Sengupta

Liverpool return to action 10 days after their Champions League trouncing of FC Porto by hosting West Ham on Saturday in the Premier League.

After a 5-0 victory over Porto, the Reds travelled to Marbella, Spain for a short warm-weather camp and Jurgen Klopp believes his squad made the most of it.

“We had four sessions when we were there that were very important. We had to do hard work but it’s easier if the weather is in your [favour],” Klopp spoke in his pre-match press conference (Official Liverpool Twitter).

Team and Injury News

As far as the team news is concerned, Joe Gomez returned to the bench at Porto following a knee problem. Nathaniel Clyne did travel to Portugal with the entire squad but Klopp has already told that the defender will not be rushed back into the fold after recovering from a serious back injury.

Also, the Reds have no suspension problems with Emre Can returning from a one-game European ban. Klopp says he has no real injury doubts ahead of West Ham clash on Saturday.

“Not really in this moment,” our gaffer added. “Little things always; little stomach [problem] here and there, but should be OK. Nobody said today to me that they are still out, but we had one or two players with little issues. Stomach-wise, they should be OK, hopefully. [Nobody is a real doubt] in the moment, no.

The German manager has declared himself “absolutely not happy” with the Reds’ season so far and expects his players to continue performing at the highest level.

“I am absolutely not happy. I want to be happy at the end of the season. Happy is not the word I have in my mind, to be honest; I am sometimes fine with it, sometimes more, sometimes less,” the manager explained.

“Immediately after the game against Porto, it is not good for me as a human being, but I thought about West Ham – that is our life, to deal with that.

“What I want is that we are really ready for this game tomorrow. They will defend a little bit deeper, probably, and we need an atmosphere that is ready for that as well.

“It’s nothing decided this season, we are in a good position but a good position only gives you the basis for the next few games and now we have to use it as a group – players, coaches, manager and crowd.

“We need to be ready for a difficult game tomorrow because they – I don’t know exactly the results but – drew against Tottenham, lost with one goal at [Manchester] City, stuff like that. It shows you need to do it.”

Klopp also praised Roberto Firmino for the way he handled himself after being accused of using racist slurs. Everton’s Mason Holgate alleged that Firmino had abused him racially during the 2-1 FA Cup win in the Merseyside derby last month.

But the FA has cleared the Brazilian from any charges and our manager says he is “proud” of his forward.

“It was a long time and I am really proud of how he dealt with it,” Klopp hailed Firmino. “We were sure from the first second that there is nothing to be afraid about from his side.

“So, happy that is confirmed now. It is a very important subject. Racism is obviously still in this world something we need to think about and we need to be careful with.

“But if there is nothing, then we need to sort it as well. All good now, let’s carry on.”

There have been reports of Liverpool rewarding Sadio Mane with a bumper new contract at the end of the season. Mane, who scored his first-ever Liverpool hat-trick, has a contract at Anfield until 2021.

Klopp also touched on Mane’s contract renewal talks in his presser, saying:

“There’s nothing to do about that. That we want to keep the players together is not a secret. We want to keep Sadio here – keep this team and strengthen it. It’s completely normal.”

West Ham have been a resurgent team under David Moyes and we have to be at our very best on Saturday to get all three points.