Harry Diamond
Jurgen Klopp praised his Liverpool players, saying the inclusion of seven of the club’s stars on the list of Ballon d’Or nominees is ‘deserved’.
The Champions League winners were the best represented club on the 30-man shortlist, with defender Virgil van Dijk regarded as among the frontrunners to win the highly-coveted award alongside Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
Van Dijk was joined on the shortlist by six of his Liverpool teammates, including forward trio Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Goalkeeper Alisson is also amongst the nominees to succeed Real Madrid’s Luka Modric as Europe’s finest player, as is full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
Klopp has expressed his delight at seeing so many of his players recognised for they achievements over the past year, saying ‘the boys deserved it’ ahead of the awarding of the accolade on December 2.
“I am not sure who is not on the list from our boys! It is nice.
“We have had so much attention and reward for the things that happened last year and that’s all good. There is one more big day and then last season is closed.
“The boys deserved it. It is the big one and I am not sure it happened too often that seven players from one club were on the shortlist and that’s good.
“In the end, someone will decide it. It’s nice and it’s what the boys deserve for the season they played last year.”
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