Klopp couldn’t resist a trademark quip. The Liverpool boss, though, knows the situation is far from light-hearted.
Klopp
“If we defend with all the other midfielders, plus the three up front, plus the backline then probably at times I could play as the number six as there wouldn't be much to do!” he laughed
“Too often we left too much work for the number six (last season) and in moments that was a problem. It's a general task for us to work on and then we will see who plays there.”
who exactly will start the season playing in defensive midfield is a poser that has increasingly vexed Klopp in recent weeks
Trent returned to right-back against Leicester in Singapore on Sunday with Conor Bradley, his deputy in Germany, having not travelled due to a minor injury
Klopp commented
“It's a shame about Conor as he was doing really well,” said the Reds boss. “Things like this happen. But Trent can play the position (number six).
“After we put him in that flexible role (inverted right-back) everybody told us he should play completely in midfield without really explaining why.
"On position number six, it's completely different from the position he played last season or for England. In the holding position you need to organise much more. We thought it (trying Alexander-Arnold there) was an important thing to do in the pre-season.
“We will now try, even though we're pretty short in the number six position, with Trent at right-back again. It was always clear we would use the pre-season for that as well
“And then we'll see how we can start the season. Yes, Trent can play the position (number six), it depends who is to the left and right of him and how we defend as a group.”
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