Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho needs to regain fitness before he can consider including the Frenchman in his team.

The 26-year-old defender was sent back from Liverpool’s pre-season US tour due to disciplinary issues, and he was widely linked with a move away from Anfield all summer.




Even on deadline day Sakho could have left the club, with offers to stay in the Premier League on his table, but the defender decided to continue at Liverpool.

With the transfer window closed, and Sakho staying at Liverpool until at least January, Klopp admits that the situation is different and he will have to act accordingly.
 


However, he also stressed that Sakho cannot hope to get into his team until he regains his fitness as the Frenchman has not played much football over the last few months.  

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On Sakho’s situation at Liverpool, Klopp said in a press conference: “The situation is that you have to make decisions [on players], but prepare for situations after the window.

"Because after the closing of the window, the situation is like it is. What I did with the players, not only with Mama, was tell them what would be best

“Now it is about getting Mama fit, which he is not because of the suspension and injuries and then we will see.

“Mama knows and I know from my side, and that’s it.”

Sakho has clocked up 80 appearances for the Reds since joining from Paris Saint-Germain and has a contract until 2020 with the club.