Dream is to have a team full of Scousers, says Liverpool boss Klopp

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VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP / FILE OF LIVERPOOL TRAINING

SHOWS

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, WALKS OUT ON TRAINING PITCH

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING:

"They (Brighton) are a really good football team, for example, they play different. I really think what they did over the last year is just incredible. With a team like Brighton who was in a relegation battle last year implementing a new style. Really going - they brought in a proper football style that's interesting. My colleague is doing a really good job there. But now, since the lockdown, they've changed their approach a bit. They went a bit more for results. You could see that against Norwich, maybe it's not a perfect example. I think Norwich had more possession in that game which is unlikely for Brighton, maybe. Since the lockdown, not so much. So, we don't know exactly what we will face. A team on a good run and pretty much full of confidence about the results they've had since lockdown. We need to be ready for that. After that Burnley, always difficult. After that Arsenal, fighting for Europe, for sure. After that Chelsea, fighting for Champions League. And then last match Newcastle, probably not fighting for anything anymore but still the last home game."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

3. KLOPP ON TRAINING PITCH WITH COACHING STAFF

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP SAYING:

"I'm really, really happy that we're allowed to use dressing rooms again. With the social distancing, all is clear, but the boys can change inside. With the weather we have now, the weather during lockdown was brilliant, but now it would be really strange if they have to change in a tent or in a car or whatever. So, I'm looking forward to the time when it will be as it was before all the things started to happen. Now it's OK, but it was really good before. So, I'll be really happy when we can do it again like we used to do it."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

5. LIVERPOOL DEFENDER, VIRGIL VAN DIJK, AT TRAINING SESSION

6. WIDE OF TRAINING

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP SAYING:

"Good, but it depends on how you see the future. It's a situation, but it's the future. In my life there was never period when I knew less about the future - with my future, I often didn't know, but the future for all of us, I think this is the first time that nobody knows exactly. So, we cannot cut that out of the general situation. The general situation is that we are all waiting for a vaccine against this awful disease. That's all of our futures. As a football club, we're not worried about the future. We have a good team and a fantastic - anyway, it's a good age group, but the future is already prepared with a few really, really good footballers. I'm really happy that the boys see it the same way."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

8. LIVERPOOL MIDFIELDER, JORDAN HENDERSON, AT TRAINING SESSION

9. LIVERPOOL FORWARD, MOHAMED SALAH, AT TRAINING

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING:

"The dream is to have all the boys (be from Liverpool), but it will not happen in five years, maybe in ten years it would be great if you could have a team full of Scousers. Why not? Because that's not a bad thing to be a Scouser, that's a good thing because they're hardworking and stuff like this. And anyway, it's clear they would fight like crazy and all that stuff. So, a few are really nice already if you're of Scouser characteristics - so good. But the door is open as well for all the other boys who want to play good football. Liverpool is a very, very open-minded club, so it'd be nice if they were ten Scousers, but if they're around, no problem with that."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

11. LIVERPOOL DEFENDER, TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD, AT TRAINING

12. MORE OF TRAINING

STORY: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says he was encouraged by the development of the club's academy graduates and hopes to have an entire squad of homegrown talent at his disposal in the future.

Liverpool secured the top-flight title for the first time in 30 years last month, leading to suggestions that Klopp would give more game time to next generation players such as Neco Williams, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott in the season's seven remaining games.

That theory ended when Liverpool were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City in their first outing after being crowned champions.

However, German Klopp, whose side are 23 points clear of second-placed City, insisted that his long-term vision is to have a club filled with local talent.

During a virtual news conference on Tuesday (July 7), Klopp also praised Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter for revamping the club's style of play as his side prepares to face Brighton on Wednesday (July 8).

(Production: Iain Axon, Kurt Michael Hall)