Klopp likens Bellingham interest to a kid wanting a ‘Ferrari for Christmas’ as Liverpool end pursuit

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has compared the club’s pursuit of Jude Bellingham to a five-year-old asking for a sports car for Christmas.

It was reported earlier this week that the Reds have ‘cooled’ their interest in the Borussia Dortmund midfielder having initially made him their number-one target this summer.

This news was not taken well by Liverpool fans, but does mean the club are likely to bring in at least three midfielders, as opposed to signing Bellingham and not being able to afford another midfielder at the level required to play in the Premier League.

Klopp was unsurprisingly asked about the 19-year-old English international in Friday’s pre-match press conference with the Reds preparing to face Leeds United on Monday evening.

The German remained coy about the situation and insists the club are working with what they have and has likened Liverpool’s interest to a five-year-old child putting a Ferrari on his Christmas list.

“There’s nothing to say about it, to be honest,” Klopp told reporters. “If we don’t speak about players we are signing or not signing, why would we speak about this speculation?

“It’s not about . I never understood why we constantly talk about things we theoretically cannot have. We cannot have six players in the summer, every player being £100m.

“You have to realise what you can do and then you have to work with it. It’s about what you can do, and you work with that.

“You have to work with what you have. You wouldn’t say as a five-year-old at Christmas you want a Ferrari.

“Whatever we need and want we try absolutely everything to get it but there are moments when you have to accept it’s not possible and step aside and do different stuff.”

Meanwhile, it was confirmed on Thursday evening that assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis will face no further action from the FA after he appeared to elbow Andy Robertson at half-time of Liverpool’s draw against Arsenal last week.

Klopp was asked about the incident shortly after the game and could not give a proper answer having not seen a replay, but obviously believed the allegation his player made.

Liverpool are without a win in the Premier League in their last four encounters, meaning their last victory came on March 5 when they battered Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield.

This has left the Reds facing a near-impossible quest to qualify for the Champions League.

Asked what his side’s aims are for the end of the season, Klopp replied: “We have nothing to lose, really. We are in a position in the table we don’t want to be.

“We have to fight for things. The things we tried this season didn’t work out properly consistently.

“After the 7-0, I’m not really sure you can learn how to deal with it. Winning 2-0 five times in a row is much better. We didn’t think we were the greatest because we beat United with a crazy result.”

On what he expects at Elland Road on Monday, Klopp said: “Big fight, massive fight. It’s a really good team. We expect them to be on their toes, a proper atmosphere.”

Klopp also discussed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s positional change in Sunday’s draw at home to Arsenal.

The England right-back appeared to be playing more centrally when in possession and caused the Gunners a lot of problems in that position.

“It’s a possibility for us,” the Reds boss explained. “We have done it before.

“Moments in the game (vs Arsenal) it happened much more often as we wanted it to happen more often.

“We have to see who it fits with other games, sometimes we can do it, sometimes not.

“For him it was good.”

Klopp added that Arsenal’s minute’s silence in memory of the Hillsborough disaster last Sunday was “probably the most respectful minute’s silence I’ve ever heard”.

Ahead of the trip to West Yorkshire, Klopp confirmed that Luis Diaz will return to the matchday squad having been absent since suffering a serious knee injury at Arsenal on October 9.

“He is 100% ready in training,” he said. “He is completely ready, now we have to reintegrate.

“He will be in the squad, unless something happens.”

Klopp also confirmed that Thiago could start after returning to action against Arsenal and provided an update on Ibrahima Konate and Alisson.

“Super important,” he said. “Thiago is a candidate for starting. Top rhythm.

“Ibou couldn’t train for two days. He will train today.

“Ali couldn’t be involved but should be back today. There’s a little bit of illness here a little bit of injury there.”