Liverpool outcast ‘can imagine’ leaving for good next year after struggling to win Klopp over

Sepp van den Berg has hinted that he could complete a permanent departure from Liverpool after his upcoming loan spell with Mainz.

 

Liverpool have loaned van den Berg out to Jurgen Klopp’s former club after he spent the previous campaign with Schalke and 18 months before that with Preston North End. His future at Anfield looks bleak after he only made four appearances for them in the 2019-20 season – none of which came in the Premier League.

After his time in the Championship with Preston, Liverpool were thinking of lifting him up to the English top flight at another loan destination. Quite why the plans changed is a mystery, but he has been in Germany ever since.

And if all goes to plan with Mainz, the Dutchman might remain in the Bundesliga.

 

Van den Berg told Bild: “I like Germany and the Bundesliga. Of course I can imagine staying in Mainz for more than one season.”

 

After all, the 21-year-old openly admits it was hard for him to force his way into Klopp’s plans at such a big club as Liverpool.

 

He said: “A big club, maybe the biggest in the world. But it’s correspondingly difficult to assert oneself there.”

 

Now, van den Berg’s challenge will be to make a name for himself at Mainz. His target is to help them improve upon their ninth-place finish from last season.

Van den Berg outlines aims for Mainz spell

Asked what he is currently thinking of, rather than his long-term future, he replied: “First of all, play again and help Mainz to maybe be even better than last season.

 

“You just have to be hungry if you want to play.”

 

His gametime for Schalke last season was fairly limited, so he will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes in the months ahead.

 

As for Liverpool, he would still be behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez in the pecking order at centre-back.

 

Liverpool were buying into his potential when he arrived from PEC Zwolle in 2019. Perhaps it was slightly too soon for him, though.

There is plenty of time ahead for him to get his career back on track, which he will be hoping can be with Mainz