Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool are better equipped to handle a gruelling fixture schedule than they were last season.

Saturday’s Premier League clash with Southampton at Anfield kicks off a hectic run of 13 matches up until New Year’s Day.

Klopp admits it’s a potentially season-defining spell and they go into it on a high after three straight wins prior to the international break and with key personnel returning to action.

Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and captain Jordan Henderson have all been passed fit with Klopp now blessed with plenty of options. Some big names will miss out against Saints but the manager insists the depth of the squad will be crucial as he rotates over the coming weeks.

“Everyone will be required, 100%,” Klopp said.

“It’s not a headache, not even a nice one for this weekend. We just have to make a line-up. The players? If they don’t know that I need them all in this period then I cannot help them. That’s how it is.

“We need them and we need them in the best, best, best shape. We have only important games.

Show Player

“Southampton is unbelievably important. Sevilla? Unbelievable. Chelsea? Wow! It goes bam, bam, bam but I am really looking forward to it. It is really good. Hopefully we can keep this group healthy, fit and full of desire, ready to go and all that stuff. It’s not only an intense period but decisive as well.”

Liverpool’s season went off the rails midway through last term when injuries cut deep and they lost Mane to the Africa Cup of Nations. However, this time around Klopp boasts much better strength in depth.

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

He added: “The good thing is I am able to forget things like this but you are obviously not! You remind me always!

“Yes, we had some injuries (last season). It was too much in this period. We had the semi-final of the EFL Cup. It was the wrong moment and stuff like this.

“We were not strong enough, the squad wasn’t big enough, players coming back, some injured. If you are not in a rhythm it means you are not the same player you were before you were injured.

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“It was a little bit like that with Phil (Coutinho). He was flying when he got injured and then when he came back it was like ‘oh’, it was different.

“You need to have a little bit of luck. We didn’t have it so far too much. Hopefully now we can use the full squad and that will make a big difference.”