But they won't get better when Klopp is stubborn about certain signings and blind about his own players. He rejected the possibility to look for other CBs in order to focus fully on Van Dijk. That didn't happen.
Meanwhile Juventus picked up Howedes on a loan with option to buy for 15m. A German CB who could be perfect for Liverpool, certainly better than Lovren and Klavan. Actually scratch that as he's been injured lol. Although will be back soon.
But there are plenty of other options in the market that Liverpool didn't look for.
Then they don't even have a proper CDM and not even looking for one there. On top of all that, Klopp's style of play exposes them defensively.
Their team is incredibly top heavy and signed another attacking midfielder in Naby Keita joining next summer. You cannot play with that front three, two attacking midfielders and one pseudo-defensive midfielder and that backline, and expect to fight for top places or trophies.
Hardly stubbornness. More like awareness that self-destruction and complete revamping of the squad will not ensure a consistent CL spot. We are all aware that their team is loaded with average players and a garbage captain to lead them. You can hardly generate a core like that overnight. Can and Gini are capable of making that step up, hence no moves needed here. Getting Keita is an attempt at getting a CDM, but hardly a discplined one. Then again Liverpool was never about discipline in any form or fashion. Milner seems like the only guy sort of capable of that and even he is average.
Now, this is still a Champions League qualifying team. Lovren, Klavan and Matip are.. OK, when the team is having a good run. But where they got results last season is not likely to repeat, because both Manchester teams improved over summer. Liverpool haven't. That is why pocketing money for Coutinho is absolutely not the way to go about this. 1) because Liverpool can't just throw whatever they make on Coutinho at any player they want and expect them to sign on the dotted line, 2) there is no guarantee they would be able to replace him with anybody from current or new generation. Would leave them with far more uncertainties in the time where they want to keep improving.
In short, why, as a CL aspiring team, would you let Coutinho leave when you're surrounded by garbage and a few glimmers of talent? I kind of suspect Klopp is being stubborn on purpose given the history of Liverpool spending their precious money on atrocious players. Can't blame him. And he can hardly conjure up 2 good-to-great CBs willing to fight for a CL spot anywhere around France or Germany. Not with average contracts they tend to give out when compared with more well-off teams like Arsenal.
