Jurgen Klopp praised Roberto Firmino for how he has coped with allegations of racial abuse hanging over his head.
The Football Association announced this week it had found no evidence that Liverpool striker Firmino racially abused Everton’s Mason Holgate after investigating for more than six weeks.
Holgate accused Firmino of making a racial remark after the pair clashed during the derby meeting in the third round of the FA Cup last month.
“We all take it really seriously. Racism is still in this world something we really need to think about and be careful with but if there’s nothing then we need to sort it as well. All good now, let’s carry on.”
Liverpool took advantage of a nine-day break without a match after last week’s thumping Champions League victory over Porto to head to Spain for a short training camp.
Klopp on Marbella trip: “We had four sessions when we were there that were very important. We had to do hard work but it’s easier if the weather is in your [favour].”
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They return to action against West Ham at Anfield on Saturday, where victory would see them climb into second place in the Premier League table above Manchester United for 24 hours at least.
Liverpool face United in two weeks’ time in what could be one of the pivotal matches in terms of deciding the order of the top five but Klopp stressed that they must not take West Ham lightly.
The Reds boss said: “I am really happy we did not have to play immediately after the Porto game because it would have been quite difficult from this really big result to get the concentration for the really difficult job against West Ham.
“They are in a good moment as well and they will show that. You play against a wall of eight players at least then they have two quick players, maybe Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) and (Marko) Arnautovic, or (Manuel) Lanzini, a little bit hidden in different areas ready for the counter-attack.
“The good thing is we had time to prepare for that in training and usually that helps us.”
Klopp said of his counterpart: “He was one of the best managers when he was at Everton. Then maybe the Sunderland job, that’s how it is in a managing life, he was not too successful, but things like that happen. But now he shows his quality again at West Ham.
“Slaven Bilic is a fantastic manager and they did really well until they didn’t do well any more, and then David came in and had to change it all around again.
Klopp has the luxury of a fully-fit squad to pick from, while Emre Can is available again following his Champions League suspension.
