Klopp goes on the offensive as Liverpool continue to back him
Jurgen Klopp believes everybody at Liverpool is still behind him as he sought to diffuse murmurs of discontent with his management approach. A few cracks have appeared in Klopp’s bold vision of Liverpool’s development this season, particularly following a number of shambolic defensive performances.
Liverpool’s weaknesses at the back were cruelly exposed by Tottenham Hotspur last weekend as they clinched a 4-1 win at Wembley which humbled and humiliated Klopp’s side.
Much of the optimism which came after two clean sheets against Manchester United and NK Maribor dissipated as individual and collective errors were prominent against Spurs.
It has led to a growing frustration among Liverpool fans that many of the club’s recent problems have simply not been solved and progress has been stunted as a result.
Klopp is adamant, though, he is the best manager for Liverpool and insists he retains the support of everyone at Anfield going forward.
“People think maybe I’m not the right one anymore and stuff like this,” Klopp said. “Inside, nobody thinks it. Not from the owners and not from me.
“I got so many messages this week saying ‘don’t listen to the pundits’. I had no idea what was said, but I can imagine.
“We all want to do it the right way. Ok, we can try again like two years ago and get a new manager but the problems are always the same.”
Klopp acknowledged he is the one who must carry the can for many of Liverpool’s problems this season.
Proposed move for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk in the summer collapsed, as a major hindrance to improvement on the pitch. Liverpool have conceded 16 goals in nine Premier League games.
However, the 50-year- old German insisted the criticism should not be directed at Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group or his squad.
“I know I am 100 per cent responsible for all this,” Klopp said ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Huddersfield Town at Anfield.
“I know I am. I cannot blame the owners – not even if I would want to shift the blame – I cannot say the owners are the problem here, or the players are the problem. No.
“We have to do the things better. It is not that I don›t know how it should work. ople maybe think that happens in football, they think that one day you lost a half a brain or whatever, but that is not how it is.
“We have to create a mood and atmosphere where the players can deliver what is needed.”
Klopp was also in the mood to close ranks over Dejan Lovren’s poor performance against Tottenham.
The Croatia centre-back was substituted after just 31 minutes at Wembley, but Klopp maintained there should be an element of collective responsibility for the mistakes and felt the attention on Lovren was over the top.
“A lot of things were really collective,” Klopp added. “But that was the first mistake I can remember in the last few weeks, that›s how it is. In our world, people go for him for that – the criticism was harsh but that is how it is.
Liverpool’s weaknesses were exposed against Tottenham last weekend (Getty)
“Yes, there was individual mistake from Dejan, but Joel Matip should have been already much closer to the situation, protection is for the moment when protection is needed. Not for the others.
“There are 500 times when you don’t have to be there, but one time you miss the ball so you have to be there all the time. We have these things where we have to do better.”
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will keep his place against Huddersfield despite a shaky display against Spurs, while Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho is a fitness doubt with an abductor strain. THE INDEPENDENT