Alberto Moreno: This is our most complete squad
Liverpool's 'most complete' squad during Alberto Moreno's time at the club so far has every player working at 100 per cent to push for places in the starting XI.
The Spaniard has yet to feature this season as Jürgen Klopp has kept faith with a settled line-up for the opening seven matches, including Andy Robertson at left-back in every game.
The increased depth available to the manager is evidenced each time he selects his substitutes for a fixture, both in those who make the bench and those who don’t.
Klopp may choose to shuffle his options when Chelsea visit Anfield in the Carabao Cup third round this evening, though the boss insisted he is going to field a ‘really strong side’.
Moreno is eager to get the nod against the Blues and explained why the necessity to be at the highest level consistently ensures he is ready to perform if called upon.
“No player likes to be sat on the bench or out of the squad, but then it motivates you to keep working hard and battling for your place, and that’s what I’m doing every day,” the No.18 told Liverpoolfc.com.
“We are professionals and we work hard each day to be completely prepared and if the manager gives me a chance I’ll give my best, and not just me, but all of my teammates who go out onto the pitch – we’ll all try to do our best.
“Since I’ve been here we’ve had some really strong squads, but this is the most complete and the biggest. We have a lot of players who are all top quality, and I think that helps the team to perform as they are doing.
“We’re doing really well and that means that no player will be taking their foot off the gas, we’ll all be working at 100 per cent to win our place in the team and play as much as possible, which is what we all want.”
Robertson’s breakthrough at Liverpool came as a result of Moreno’s misfortune last December when the latter sustained an injury during the Champions League clash with Spartak Moscow.
The Scot became a mainstay of Klopp’s XI for the majority of the rest of the campaign and has continued to hold down the spot into the current season.
As well as being prepared for such a scenario in reverse, Moreno knows part of his responsibility is to push his fellow left-back as hard as possible for that place.
“That’s right,” he said. “I need to be ready because I never know when my chance will come, so I need to be fit in case something happens.
“That’s what we work for and why we are professional footballers, to be at 100 per cent throughout the whole season. But it’s true that, not just Andy, the whole team are in unbelievable form and I think we need to make the most of this form we are all in and keep moving forward.”
With seven consecutive wins under their belt so far this term, next on the agenda for Liverpool is the beginning of their Carabao Cup participation and a tough task against Chelsea.
The Londoners are unbeaten in 2018-19 under new manager Maurizio Sarri and Moreno is impressed by the way the Italian has transferred his style from former club Napoli to Stamford Bridge.
“I already knew Sarri from when he was at Napoli and when you watched them play they were a fantastic team,” said the 26-year-old.
“They were really good on the ball, they played with a great deal of purpose, always kept possession and were very attacking. He has come here with the same theory, this idea of having possession of the ball, of dominating games and I think that’s what they’re doing.
“I’ve seen some of Chelsea’s games this year and they play some really good football, but they are playing Liverpool, who are right now one of the top teams in Europe.”
The Reds have come agonisingly close to silverware on several occasions during Moreno’s spell on Merseyside, finishing runners-up in the League Cup, Europa League and Champions League under Klopp’s guidance.
It’s a fact that irritates the defender and one he hopes can be altered this season.
“This is my fifth year here and I’ve got very close to winning a number of trophies but it hasn’t happened and it’s something that niggles me, I want to win a trophy at Liverpool and hopefully it can happen this year,” said the former Sevilla man.
“At this moment we are competing in all four competitions, but I think it’s a bit early to talk about winning trophies because we’ve only played seven games so far this season.
“We’ve won seven, we’re playing fantastically well, and I think we need to continue in this way. Ultimately, champions don’t fall away, they maintain the same level throughout the season and I think we have the ability to do this.”
Summer signing Fabinho could be in line to make his full debut for Liverpool in the tie having had just a fleeting appearance against Paris Saint-Germain so far.
Fans are keen to see the midfielder in action and Moreno, who chats with his new teammate in Spanish, is certain the Brazil international won’t disappoint.
“He’s in the same position as me, he’s looking forward to getting an opportunity, getting minutes so he can show what he can do,” he added.
“He’s new, so perhaps he’s even more looking forward to it than me because he’s not had any game time yet, but I think everyone saw during pre-season what a fantastic player he is, and I think he’ll show what a great player he is and leave a good impression.”