Liverpool target new midfielder as Klopp admits he got it wrong

Liverpool will try to sign a new midfielder before the end of the transfer window after Jurgen Klopp admitted he was initially mistaken about their needs.

The Reds' poor start to the Premier League season - which saw them pick up just two points from three games - has been exacerbated by injury problems.

Monday's 2-1 loss to a previously struggling Manchester United side was seen as a wake-up call, with Liverpool's starting midfield trio of James Milner, Harvey Elliott and Jordan Henderson failing to impress.

Klopp was without Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Fabinho was only fit enough to be on the bench.

Thiago and Jones should be back in contention soon, but it's clear something has changed in Klopp's mind, as the German had previously insisted Liverpool didn't need reinforcements amid land.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Klopp said: "There's really nothing to say about it because we're looking for him, and if he's the right player, we need him; if not he's not the right player, we don't need him."

When asked if his U-turn was due to a poor start to the season and injuries, he replied: "That has changed. I know we've had this discussion since it all started; I'm the one who said we don't need a midfielder, and now we're looking for a midfielder - you [the media] were right and I was wrong.

"So again, Curtis is coming back, Thiago not too far away, Diogo [Jota] not too far away, Joel [Matip] coming back. It all makes things slightly easier.

“It would be great if nobody got on the [disabled] list on the other side. But yeah, a really intense time coming, we know all that. can't change, or we won't change, for that now the way we handle the situation, so I really don't have anything to say to you right now. So let's see."

Among the midfielders tentatively linked with Liverpool recently are Borussia Dortmund talent Jude Bellingham and Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.

None appear to be direct targets, but Klopp has reiterated that he does not want to sign just any player.

"I don't know, we'll see," Klopp said when asked if they could bring someone in before Thursday's transfer deadline.

"It has to be the right player, but we are working and we will see if something will happen or not. As you can imagine, we are constantly working on this stuff, and there are reasons for which sometimes doesn't happen - sometimes too expensive, sometimes not the right player - but then the situation changes.

"One thing remains important, and that is that he has to be the right player. If we do something, it will be that we will be 100% convinced of it, and if we are not convinced, we will not will not."