Jurgen Klopp gives Liverpool flops the bottom line for Man City match
Jurgen Klopp gives Liverpool flops the bottom line ahead of tricky meeting with Premier League leaders Manchester City as last year’s champions look to end a run of two games at Anfield without a goal
- Liverpool are currently on a run of two home league games without a win or goal
- The Reds face league leaders Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday afternoon
- Jurgen Klopp feels his players were too slow in the Burnley and Brighton games
- The German manager claims his side will be aiming to improve their tempo
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp accepts he’s being a hard taskmaster in geeing up his players after successive home defeats without scoring.
The Liverpool boss felt his players were too soft and slow in delivering the final pass during Wednesday’s loss against Brighton and has used a colourful German proverb to demand what he’s looking for
‘It was about the tempo of the ball against Brighton. They were only able to close the gaps because our passes were not hard enough,’ said Klopp ahead of Sunday’s big game against Manchester City.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp (left) is aware that he is a hard taskmaster with his Liverpool stars
The out-of-form Reds are currently on a run of two straight home league defeats with scoring
‘The boys have known me long enough that if you pass the ball nine million times in exactly the right way and three or four times not, then we talk only about these three or four times.
‘It is not too cool but it is important. We will work on the tempo. Just Bam!
‘If the situation is there, we have the ball, no pressure on us and two or three runners (and don’t capitalise), then we destroy with our backside what we build with our hands. It is a translation from a German phrase and that was the situation against Brighton.’
Klopp is trying to gee his players up for Sunday’s tricky task with leaders Manchester City
The champions trail City by seven points but their rivalry has seen a similar gap overturned before when Liverpool led by seven going into a 2-1 defeat at The Etihad in 2019. Guardiola’s men, who were saved by a goal-line clearance from John Stones, went on to become champions.
‘I had forgotten about it completely. Yes, now I am on fire, let’s give it a try,’ said Klopp.
‘This is a completely different situation now but of course it shows things can change quickly.
‘There are a lot of things to consider for a game like this, a lot of things to think about. In the end, we have to play football at a really high level and defend everything.
Klopp’s Liverpool are seven points behind Pep Guardiola’s (right) City who have a game in hand
‘You have to make a few special things happens and we will try. You don’t score easy goals against City, or even get easy chances, but that is a good thing about football. Even when you lose the last game, everything is possible for the next one. That is what we will try to use and show.’
Liverpool’s three main centre-halves are out for the season but Klopp is buoyed by goalkeeper Alisson and forward Sadio Mane being able to return.
New signing Ozan Kobak has received international clearance to play after his deadline day move from Schalke.
Klopp is hoping the below-par display against Brighton was a hangover from tough games in London against West Ham and Spurs. ‘I saw those matches from the touchline and we paid the bill. It happens. Let’s go for the next one.’
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