Klopp Rules Out Gerrard Return To Liverpool

Liverpool were utterly dominant against Russian side Rubin Kazan on Thursday evening, holding almost three-quarters of the possession and running the hosts ragged.

Ryan Kent is relishing the opportunity of showcasing his talents to new Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp this week when the Coventry City loan star returns to Anfield.

“They are all Liverpool players here”, he said, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Klopp travelled with a strong team, signalling his intent to take the competition seriously, unlike predecessor Brendan Rodgers.

Gerrard, who had spent his entire career at Liverpool before the mpve, scored on his MLS debut but has netted only once more in 14 matches for the club, who are five-time MLS Cup winners.

Liverpool put themselves on course to qualify from Group B of the Europa League with a 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan.

When a reporter asked the most blunt question imaginable regarding the German’s tactics and line up for the game, Klopp could only sit back and laugh.

“We know it will be hard tomorrow and that is why the Europa League is a very big challenge”.

Exactly one year and one day ago, an under-strength Liverpool side – famously not including then captain Steven Gerrard – were running out to face Real Madrid in the Champions League. “We changed a few things to create more and I’m really satisfied how we did it”, he said.

“The players, the passing they have, the sequence of retaining the ball as a team and positively as well, they didn’t show for a long, long time”.

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool with Alberto Moreno and Adam Lallana at the end of the UEFA Europa League match between FC Rubin Kazan and Liverpool FC on November 5, 2015 in Kazan, Russia.

With Crystal Palace coming up this weekend for Klopp and his exhausted troops, Ibe will be hoping his display has his manager thinking about a potential start at Anfield.

It meant a first start since September 20 for Christian Benteke and while his team-mates did their best to supply him with ammunition, there was not a great deal to trouble goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov in the first half.

“I watched the game between Chelsea and Liverpool are improving with each match”, he said.

“I was at his first game in charge against Spurs and you could see something different”.