Klopp quick to shut down Havertz criticism: "He's a top player"

Jürgen Klopp has jumped to Kai Havertz's defence after some underwhelming displays as Germany's starting striker. 

“I've played against Kai many times, and I can tell you that preparing for a game against him is no walk in the park.

“You get a real sense of just how complete a player he is,” Klopp said, reflecting on his time as Liverpool coach when facing Arsenal. 

"You always have to be prepared for him to produce an outstanding performance because he has all the qualities to do so.

"He's a top player. Mikel Arteta is someone who, as a person and as a coach, is absolutely determined to win.

"And unless several negative scenarios all come together, Kai Havertz starts games for Arsenal. 

“The fact that he plays here is not simply because I don't want to leave him out, but because I want to win games,” Klopp added. 

The DFB head coach said the 27-year-old was unlucky not to find the net against Serbia. Klopp also senses the potential Havertz can bring to Germany's attack going forward.

"Take the game against Serbia, for example. Kai put in an outstanding performance. He could have scored two goals and, under certain circumstances, perhaps even should have. 

"What interests me is his potential and what we can achieve together with him going forward, rather than dwelling on what has happened so far.

"I've watched Kai Havertz – I wouldn't claim to have seen every single international match, but whenever Kai Havertz has been on my radar, I've considered him an absolute top player.

“So I'm really looking forward to working with him. And if there's anything more we can get out of him, I'm pretty confident that we'll manage to do that together,” he concluded. 

Having failed to score against Serbia last week, Havertz has only netted once for Germany in his last five appearances.