Jurgen Klopp makes embarrassing admission about Tiago Ilori

After showings in recent weeks, most fans aren’t sure he’s a Liverpool player either.

We imagine that Jurgen Klopp is still trying to get to know his players, their skills, and what they are all capable of. The German wasn’t really able to bolster his squad in last month’s transfer window so, instead, recalled a number of loan players that the Reds had learning their trade away from Merseyside. One of those players was Tiago Ilori, who was a high-profile signing under Brendan Rodgers, but had spent the last 18 months or so out on loan. Klopp has used the Portuguese youngster in cup competitions and he may even make his Premier League debut this Sunday when Liverpool travel Villa Park. Ilori was drafted in as emergency cover at centre-half over the last few weeks but, on Friday, Klopp admitted that when he was initially asked about bringing the player back on loan to Melwood, he hadn’t a clue who he was. The German was asked what he knew of the centre half, and as ever, was brutally honest. "I didn’t know Ilori was a Liverpool player, to be honest, but then I saw he was on loan and we got him here and you see the potential. “That’s good, really good, but we need to develop and learn. They (the young players) gave one sign but it’s just one sign and we need consistency. They have to accept the situation, see it as a positive they have made the next step, train and train, and be more available more often.” Ilori failed to make even a single appearance for Villa under Tim Sherwood after his season-long loan spell was agreed last summer while new Villa boss Remi Garde clearly didn’t fancy him either. Clearly his forgotten man status has extended to Jurgen Klopp too.