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Georginio Wijnaldum: Liverpool do not need to replace midfielder in transfer window, says Jurgen Klopp

"Do I expect a busy four days [remaining in the transfer window] for us? Not really," says Klopp; watch Liverpool vs Chelsea on Saturday from 5pm live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event; kick-off at 5:30pm

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Jurgen Klopp is expecting a 'big fight' against Chelsea and has praised Thomas Tuchel's tenure so far, as two of the Premier League's title challengers prepare to meet at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp says there is "no real need" for Liverpool to sign a central midfielder in the closing stages of the summer window and does not expect any more incomings at Anfield before the transfer deadline.

Defender Ibrahima Konate arrived from RB Leipzig after Liverpool agreed to pay his £36m release clause in May and the centre-back will bolster the Reds' defensive options this term, following a 2020/21 campaign in which they were hampered by long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

But central midfielder Georgino Wijnaldum, who was influential in helping Liverpool to their first Premier League crown last year and their sixth European Cup triumph in 2019, left for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, and the club have not gone in search of a replacement for the Netherlands international.

Ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Chelsea, live on Sky Sports, Klopp said: "There's no need to buy a midfielder just because there's one on the market.

"If people think about it, there's no real need [for a midfielder]. If there was one player who could improve all the things, then we would go for it."

Georginio Wijnaldum
Image: Wijnaldum scored 22 goals and made 16 assists in 237 games for Liverpool

Twenty-year-old Curtis Jones' emergence in the first team, captain Jordan Henderson's return to fitness, Naby Keita starting the first two games of the season, as well as the presence of Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad has convinced Klopp he does not require further depth in the central midfield area.

He added: "[Georginio] Wijnaldum played an incredible amount of games for us. But if there's an area of the team where we have the dynamics, there is no gap [in midfield].

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"We have players with great skills. Last week doesn't mean Harvey [Elliott] is the saviour of our midfield problem, as we don't have one.

"I cannot help the supporters who want us to sign a player just to get somebody in.

"If there's an area we have on the pitch where we have all the different skill sets, dynamic, creativity, defensive-orientated, offensive-orientated, all these kind of things - there is no gap."

When questioned about any further movement in the transfer window for Liverpool, Klopp added: "Do I expect a busy four days [remaining in the transfer window] for us? Not really.

"Again, it's a bit disappointing that I obviously have to mention it but we brought in Ibrahima Konate and it was not a bargain or whatever.

"But all these attacking, offensive players that other clubs are signing, that's obviously something they thought they needed and they had the resources to do it.

"That's the situation, but we will not use it as any kind of excuse in any kind of game. We will just go for it."

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'Ronaldo not a signing for the future'

Klopp said a return to the Premier League for Cristiano Ronaldo is a short-term investment and has defended Liverpool's ethos regarding their squad's development when compared to their top-flight rivals.

Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes approached Manchester United to propose a deal that has seen Ronaldo return to the club he left 12 years ago, just hours after Manchester City pulled out of talks to sign the 36-year-old.

Saturday's opponents Chelsea re-signed Romelu Lukaku for £97.5m earlier this month, while the other top-six Premier League sides have also spent heavily in the window.

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says it's clear that Cristiano Ronaldo will be a short-term signing, and he's been enjoying watching the story unfold

Klopp said: "Cristiano [Ronaldo], I watched that [transfer story break] like a football supporter. I have no more knowledge about it. Probably you [the media] have much more knowledge if it will happen or not than I have.

"Again, it's not about me to judge that. If other clubs can do things like this it's not a business for the future [like] in three or four years we will have the benefit of that.

"It's not business for the future, it's for now, immediately.

"That's how some clubs are working, but there must be different ways. You still need to develop as a team, as a club, and that's what we do.

"First and foremost I think with [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo especially, there might be a commercial aspect of course but don't think that PSG brought in Messi because of the commercial [benefits].

"Maybe yes, I don't know. They brought him in because Messi still has a lot to give for the football team, that's it.

"And if Cristiano comes to the Premier League, I think that's the first intention as well in that case. Nobody came to me so far...I never had to make a commercial signing - whatever that means.

"Nobody asked me for that and if somebody would come [offering a player], I would start thinking but so far it [has] never happened."

    Liverpool's Elliott receives first England U21 call-up
    Liverpool's Elliott receives first England U21 call-up

    Liverpool winger Harvey Elliott has received his first call-up to the England U21 squad ahead of their international games in September.

    Klopp predicts difficult Chelsea test

    Liverpool and Chelsea both picked up maximum points from their opening two top-flight games of the campaign ahead of Saturday's encounter between two of the Premier League's title challengers, however, the Reds have won four out of the last five clashes between the pair in the top flight.

    Klopp's team will be aiming to redeem themselves after a brilliant Mason Mount strike from just outside the box secured a 1-0 win for Thomas Tuchel's side in the last meeting between the two teams at Anfield.

    Despite their FA Cup final setback against Leicester City last term, the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup winners have been imperious since Klopp's compatriot arrived at Stamford Bridge and Tuchel has lost just five games as the Blues' head coach.

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    Ahead of their clash this weekend, we take a look back at some of the most memorable moments from Liverpool and Chelsea's previous meetings

    Klopp said: "I expect a very difficult game for both teams, I don't think there's an easy way through any line. Thomas Tuchel's teams are very well organised, will be I'm sure [on Saturday] and it will be a pretty big fight.

    "It is one of these games I would watch 100 per cent. Chelsea obviously are in a really good moment, they won the Champions League with their last club game last season and played a really good last half of last season since Thomas came in.

    "They've brought Lukaku in which doesn't make them worse obviously. It is a tough opponent but we are not in a worse moment ourselves as well and hopefully, we can show that."

    James Milner will miss the game with Chelsea this weekend but Andy Robertson could be set for a return and Klopp revealed he will challenge Kostas Tsimikas for the left-back spot after the Greek international started Liverpool's last two matches.

    Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel face off when Liverpool host Chelsea in the Premier League
    Image: Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel face off when Liverpool host Chelsea in the Premier League

    Klopp on the rise of 'sensational' Tuchel

    By Adam Bate

    Jurgen Klopp remembers the first time he saw a Thomas Tuchel team. It was 2009 and the final of the U19 competition in Germany. Tuchel's Mainz were up against Borussia Dortmund. Klopp watched with Christian Heidel, his old sporting director.

    "It was my former club against my actual club," Klopp tells Sky Sports. "Andres Schurrle was in the Mainz team. Mario Gotze was the most famous name in the Dortmund side. I would have watched this game anyway because it was just a great season for both teams.

    "The rest is maybe a nice story."

    Mainz won the match and Tuchel won an admirer. Klopp turned to Heidel afterwards and declared that while Dortmund had the better players, Mainz had the better team. That summer, Heidel acted quickly to appoint Tuchel as the club's new first-team coach.

    "He won the final and then a few weeks later he was the manager of the first team and did an exceptional job," recalls Klopp. Tuchel took Mainz to a top-half finish in his first season and briefly topped the Bundesliga in his second. Klopp had a unique insight throughout.

    Watch Liverpool vs Chelsea on Saturday from 5pm live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event; kick-off at 5:30pm.

    Follow Deadline Day with Sky Sports

    Time is running out for clubs to do business - the summer transfer window closes at 11pm in England and midnight in Scotland on Tuesday August 31 and you can follow all the Deadline Day drama with Sky Sports.

    Follow all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on the Sky Sports website and app, check out the latest Done Deals and watch the best analysis and reaction on Sky Sports News.

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