Jurgen Klopp has revealed how he told Joe Gomez to avoid pumping iron in order to bolster his chances of playing a bigger role for Liverpool this season.

The young defender caught the eye again in the Reds' 3-0 friendly win over Hertha Berlin as he shone at right-back.

Gomez returned to action in the second half of last season after a serious knee injury but found his opportunities limited.

Klopp says he was too bulky and believes he's benefiting from being lighter this time around.





Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool's 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin

"Last night I had a long talk with him," Klopp said.

"When I came in I saw him for about 20 minutes playing in the under-21s. Then he got the injury and I thought: 'Oh my God'.

"Everybody told me what a wonderful player he is. When he came back he got injured and then when he came back again he was heavy.

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"He had a lot of muscle and you only need muscles like that if you're only going to the beach or whatever.

Match in 90 Seconds: Hertha Berlin 0 Liverpool 3

"We had to work on this and now he's back. He lost weight, he's really fit, he looks sharp. There are still things to improve.

"His heading was really good, but he can improve -- he needs to be a little more aggressive."

Klopp says Gomez is a serious option for the Reds at right-back this season.

"The full-back position is now unbelievably important for us now because Clyney (Nathaniel Clyne) has had no pre-season so far," he said.

"Trent (Alexander-Arnold), as we all know, is a fantastic player, but also just 18 - offensively ready, but in defence he needs to improve a lot. We need these different options and it's good to have him back, absolutely."

There was also a highly promising debut from new £10million left-back Andy Robertson.

"You could see exactly what he's good in and where he has to improve in 45 minutes - speed, good crosses, flexible and all that stuff," Klopp said.

"We are a dominant football team - or want to be a dominant football team - so you need the players who can make the difference, especially on the wing.

"He was good in defence, apart from one or two situations. But it's always like this. We left him alone, like we left Alberto Moreno in the first half alone.

"Hertha on the wings are strong and they have many options inside. Andy needs to improve but it's a really good boy."