Liverpool on edge as
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defended Neymar’s play-acting at the World Cup and believes it will be impossible to completely snuff out the Brazilian’s threat when Paris Saintgermain visit Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Klopp insisted Neymar wasn’t fully fit in Russia after breaking a bone in his foot in February that forced him to miss the rest of the club season with the French giants before the World Cup.
However, the world’s most expensive player earned few plaudits for his performances and became a figure of fun for his constant feigning of injury.
“When I saw a few games at the World Cup and I know people are talking about that and it looked like he made a bit more of situations. But it’s a normal reaction because players are going for him, that’s the truth, and he wants to protect himself. I understand that,”klopp said. “I’m not sure it’s possible to avoid his quality 100 percent. He’s a fantastic footballer, outstanding.”
“He was not fit at the World Cup and he tried to take the responsibility for his country. Belgium played an outstanding game against Brazil, but if Neymar is fit, Brazil wins it. That’s how it is. “He was injured and so he had to save himself a bit. He’s not a person who wants to act because if you are like that you cannot play football. “He got rested at the weekend so he will be 100 percent fresh, he’s not injured any more. We will see the full package Neymar.”
Despite splashing over 400 million euros on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, PSG failed to progress beyond the last 16 in their quest to win a first ever Champions League. But Klopp, who led Liverpool to the final in May, believes marrying a richly talented squad with new coach Thomas Tuchel makes the French giants an even bigger threat to win this season.
“The players they have, the manager they have, they all brought it together to go as far as possible in the Champions League,” he added.
“He is an outstanding coach. I
TV TIMINGS
10:25pm, Inter v Tottenham;
12:30am (Wed), Monaco v Atletico, live on Sony Ten 1 & HD
10:25pm, Barcelona v PSV Eindhoven;
really thought it was a smart decision of PSG to sign Tuchel,” said Klopp. “For this kind of team with unbelievable individual quality, you still need a manager who can teach or educate them in playing
Tuesday’s hosts
FOCUS ON SALAH UCL 2017/18 NUMBERS
PSG
Goals scored: Goals conceded: Neymar scored: Mbappe scored: Cavani scored: The Egyptian star’s scoring spree last season was the driving force behind Liverpool’s Champions League surge in 2017/18.
Salah’s start to the new season though has been a struggle. He has netted just twice in Liverpool's opening five games and missed chances he would have otherwise buried. For Salah, this will be a perfect chance to prove he is not a one-season wonder, more so since he has made the final three of Fifa’s top award.
BEEFED UP BACKLINE
One of Liverpool’s biggest problem last season was their defensive shortcomings. Klopp has brought in
Brazilian shot-stopper Alisson (in pic) from Roma and defensive midfielder Fabinho to bolster the backline. Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri will also give Liverpool added depth in times of need.
12:30am (Wed), Liverpool v PSG, live on Sony Ten 2 & HD
12:30am (Wed), Club Brugge v Dortmund, live on Sony ESPN & HD
together and they brought in one of the best I know. That makes them quite a big challenge for us.”
Liverpool have build on the momentum of reaching last season’s final and a summer of
NEYMAR MUST STEP UP
One of the major expectations from Neymar, who moved to PSG for a world-record €222 million two seasons ago, was that the Brazilian would guide the French club to Champions League glory. With the domestic titles almost guaranteed due to lack of competition, Neymar’s claim to be crowned the world’s best player hinges on his ability to win PSG their maiden European title.
ALL EYES ON MBAPPE
After his heroics in the Fifa World Cup, teenage sensation Mbappe (in pic) is being dubbed as heir to Lionel
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His explosive pace and finishing will be a concern for Klopp and if Mbappe can deliver on Europe’s biggest stage, he may well be on his way to winning an individual award.
12:30am (Wed), Red Star Belgrade v Napoli, live on Sony Six & HD
12:30am (Wed), Schalke v Porto, live on Sony Ten 3 & HD
shrewd investment in the transfer market by winning all five of their Premier League games.
However, as they prepare to face one of the world’s most daunting attacking tridents in
Neymar, Mbappe and Edison Cavani, Klopp could be without one of his prolific front three.
Roberto Firmino suffered an abrasion after being poked in his left eye by Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen on Saturday and is a doubt to partner Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
“Would he play today? No chance, but we all hope tomorrow (he’ll be ok),” said Klopp.