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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Reds must be excited rather than concerned about the prospects of the new season, despite the departure of Sadio Mane.
Mane completed a €41million (34.7m) move to Bayern Munich in June, ending a successful six-year spell at Liverpool, where he won both the Premier League and Champions League.
Since arriving from Southampton in 2016, Mane scored 90 goals in 196 Premier League games, a tally bettered only by Jamie Vardy (104), Mohamed Salah (118) and Harry Kane (134) in that period.
The Senegal international heads to the Bundesliga champions for the 2022-23 term, while Klopp’s side have brought in Darwin Nunez from Benfica to fill the void up top.
Salah has also penned a contract extension at Anfield, with youngsters Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay arriving as well, and Klopp believes Liverpool have no reason to worry for the next campaign.
“We know how good Sadio is, we will realise how good he was for us in moments because there were just ‘Sadio moments’ when no one else can do it like him,” Klopp told Sky Sports News.
“That’s not a bad thing because two years ago Diogo Jota came in and Diogo did amazing stuff for us.
“Bobby Firmino had probably not the season we all expected because of injuries but in training Bobby is back, 100 per cent. He’s a world-class player.
“You don’t have to be worried when you think about us or you can be excited about what’s possible for us. We cannot do the same thing year-in, year-out, it’s just not possible.
“We have a base, we have to build on this base and be more unpredictable for other teams and that’s possible with bringing in other players because they have a different skill-set.
“How can you keep going? How can you improve a world-class football team? It’s by training, obviously – we believe in that a lot – but as well in bringing new players in.
“We need fresh blood, a new dynamic, fresh desire to create a team full of excitement and determination for the things coming.
“Sometimes you do it exactly like you want and sometimes you have to react on a situation like when Sadio told us that he wants to move on. We have to replace him, he’s a pretty good player.
“Thankfully we could do that already in the window by bringing in Luis [Diaz] and now Darwin. Fabio is a very exciting player.
“Two of the world-class front three are still here plus extra, extra quality, The spine of the team is as well, the last line, the midfield, have a very interesting mix of experience and youth. I’m really looking forward to working with that.”
There have been growing suggestions Liverpool still require another midfielder to partner Thiago and Fabinho, with Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham among the names heavily linked to Merseyside.
Despite still being aged 18, Bellingham started 44 games for Dortmund in all competitions in the 2021-22 season – four more than any other player – but Klopp will not be making a move for the midfielder.
“No. I can say that,” he told reporters when asked if there would be more transfer activity. “I don’t think something will happen in midfield, but you never know. If somebody comes to you and says, ‘I want to go’.
“Nobody came to me but if that happens then we have to talk. But if the situation stays like it is, then tell me why [I should sign someone]? I do not understand.
“People told me about this discussion but the last thing that would have crossed my mind is that we have to do this.
When pressed on interest in Bellingham, Klopp added: “He’s not on the market, so that’s the first problem with that player. Well, the only problem with that player!”
