Inconsistent Liverpool still has to develop, says Klopp
Liverpool is still seeking to strike the right balance between defensive solidity and attacking fluency, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds were a potent force going forward last season under the German, unexpectedly rampaging into the final of the Champions League, only to lose 3-1 to Real Madrid, Fourfourtwo reported.
Untimely lapses at the back also saw Liverpool finish fourth in the Premier League, having conceded more goals than each of its immediate rivals Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
After 13 league games in 201819, Klopp’s side has let in just five goals, the same as reigning champion City.
But that newfound solidity has come at the expense of sharpness in the final third, Liverpool having scored only 26 goals compared to the 40 netted by Pep Guardiola’s league leader.
Speaking ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton, Klopp was asked if a disconnect has developed this term between a more conservative approach in midfield, and Liverpool’s previously unstoppable frontline.
“Yes, in specific games we can say that,” he said.
“But to be honest for me it is quite strange.
“When everything is brilliant and we score goals you always ask about defending and how can we fix that?
“We fixed that, kind of, and it always happens that the first step is it costs you a bit of fluency and creativity. That is a completely normal thing.
“If someone would think about it for one second they would see it is clear, it is logical.
“Now, when we fix that, I can’t say in the first moment to the boys: ‘But that’s not enough offensively’. That would be crazy. We still have to develop, that’s what we do.”
Klopp also rejected out of hand the suggestion that Liverpool should enter the transfer market in January in search of a solution.
“One player doesn’t change everything.
“We have the players for it. We have to win football games. Really, with all the things I saw in this country football-wise, if people cannot enjoy our football then I really can’t help them.
“But I get constantly confronted with the question – something is missing. What’s that?
“Of course it could be better but it is not because of one player. We are creative. I don’t know how many goals we’ve scored but we’ve had many more chances.
“Creating is not a problem. You could say finishing [is] the problem, whatever you want.
“I get that you have to write about things, no problem, but write it and don’t ask me about it because I’m not interested about it, I don’t think about it and I can’t answer it.
“I don’t tell my boys to do one thing and then tell them publicly to do another thing.” The Los Angeles Lakers were stuck in neutral for most of the first half against Dallas.
Then they ramped up their defense and rallied for a second win in as many nights, posting a 114-103 victory over the Mavericks on Friday night, The Associated Press reported.
‘’From the second quarter on, our defense stepped up. We did a nice job of getting stops and getting out and running,’’ Lakers coach Luke Walton said.
‘’We found our energy and were able to carry it on from there. It was ugly in the first. We weren’t able to get back in transition and had too many turnovers.’’
Dallas shot 12 of 25 from the field in the first quarter and then shot just 36 percent (22 of 61) the rest of the game. The Lakers (13-9) had a 31-13 advantage in fast-break points and outscored the Mavericks 62-40 in the paint.
Lebron James missed five of six from the field in the first quarter before going 11 of 15 the rest of the way and finishing with 28 points.
‘’I knew what type of basketball I played in the first quarter and the result of that was us playing poor. I hit the reset button and knew I would be much better,’’ James said.
Brandon Ingram added 19 points and was lauded by Walton for holding Dallas rookie Luka Doncic to six points and 2 of 13 from the field.
‘’We tried to contest every shot that he took, whether it was going to the lane, midrange or three-pointers,’’ Ingram said.
Kyle Kuzma added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers. It’s the third time in five back-to-back sets this season that they have taken both games.
Los Angeles trailed for most of the first three quarters – and fell behind by as many as 15 in the second – before going on a 10-4 run the final three minutes of the third to take a 78-75 advantage into the fourth.
The Lakers were up 90-86 before taking control with a 15-3 run that included nine points by Kentavious Caldwellpope.
Harrison Barnes led Dallas (10-10) with 29 points, and Dwight Powell added 17 off the bench.
Dallas was assessed four technical fouls in the game, including three in the fourth quarter. JJ Barea was ejected midway in the fourth after receiving his second technical.
‘’The combination of second shots and turnovers really hurt us in stretches in the second half,’’ Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. ‘’Our bad stretches were longer than our good stretches. It was a very disappointing loss.’’
Dallas led 45-30 less than four minutes into the second quarter when the Lakers got back into it with 10 straight points, which included six by James. The Mavericks led 58-53 at halftime.