Jurgen Klopp spoke on a number of topics during his first pre-match press conference of 2020/21 on Friday afternoon.
Liverpool take on Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday as they kick off the new season with their first Community Shield appearance in over fourteen years.
Klopp, who spoke to journalists via video call in now-familiar fashion, was asked about his side's preparations for the match, as well as what his plans are for promising youngster Rhian Brewster this season.
The boss also added his thoughts on Liverpool's squad depth and whether there was any chance of further incomings this summer.
The Reds have played just two pre-season games ahead of the new season, against VfB Stuttgart and RB Salzburg, and while the timing of the Community Shield may not be perfect for Klopp's side, he insists his players will be ready.
“Would I have wanted to play a proper game after two weeks' preparation? No,” Klopp said.
“But we know it for a while already. It took a while until we had any schedule, but since we know it, we accepted it 100 per cent.
“We had now two weeks' training until then, worked really hard, which everybody who wanted to see it could see in the Salzburg game because the boys obviously had some heavy legs; we try to make sure they are not that heavy anymore, but it's for us like it is for Arsenal.
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“So, we prepare for a whole season, one of the most intense we'll ever experience in our lives because of the amount of games, the time we have for that and all these kinds of things.
“It's not perfect but it's as perfect as it can be. We will try everything to win the game, that's how it is. Arsenal will probably do the same.”
Liverpool have added just one new face this summer in the form of left-back Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiacos. The Reds have been linked with Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara all summer and according to football insider Fabrizio Romano, talks between the two clubs are set to restart soon.
When asked on the possibility of further transfer business, Klopp was coy in his response.
“We brought already players in; Kostas, we brought in – not brought in, but they are coming closer and closer – the kids. They are coming closer. That looked really well in the pre-season,” Klopp added.
“I don't know what will happen, to be honest, but there's a long time to go until October 6. It will be interesting to see what other teams are doing, but we are more or less in our situation and we will deal with our situation like we always did.
“I think the philosophy of this club is pretty clear, we always did that. We will see how much we can, or how much we want, to spend and all these kinds of things. So, nothing really to say about it.”
After a stellar loan period at Swansea City last season where he scored 11 goals in 22 games, Rhian Brewster has already made a mark on the first team, scoring both of Liverpool's goals in their 2-2 draw with Salzburg.
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Brewster possesses a striker's touch that is missing from the club despite the goalscoring exploits of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in recent years.
Klopp admitted that Brewster is part of his first team plans for 2020-21 for now but did throw out the possibility of the 20-year-old going out on loan for experience.
“In the moment he is, and then we have to see what will happen in the next few weeks or so. We want to use Rhian, but we want to help Rhian as well so that's why we have to make decisions, but not now obviously. He looks really promising,” Klopp said.
“I know goals are the most important thing in the football world, so obviously he can score goals [and] that's good and all the rest, we will see. He is still a young boy.
“In this position, as No.9 up front, experience helps a lot. We have to see how we can give him the experience – is it here [or] is it somewhere else? I only mention it because it's not decided yet, why should we?
“There's absolutely no reason to rush anything in that thing. He is our boy and now in the moment he is here. He will be involved tomorrow, in the squad for sure, and that's it.”
Watch Klopp's press conference in full above.