Klopp had Hoffenheim play-off premonition

LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he had a feeling his side would draw German opposition after they were paired with Hoffenheim in the Champions League play-off round on Friday.

Liverpool will travel to Klopp’s homeland for the first leg on August 15 before Hoffenheim visit Anfield the following week, with a place in the group phase at stake.

“Very interesting. Actually, it was exactly what I expected when I had a look – if there’s a choice, we always seem to take the German team! Sorry!” Klopp told the Liverpool website.

“It was clear from the first moment when we knew who we could face that there would be no easy game. It’s Hoffenheim and that’s for sure not an easy game.

“But we should always not forget what they thought in the moment they saw the draw – it’s not the best thing they could get. I’m completely fine with it, happy to know and now we can start preparing.”

The tie will pit Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino against his former club, the Brazilian having left Hoffenheim to move to England in 2015.

Hoffenheim were the last team in Europe’s top five leagues to lose their unbeaten record last season, but have since seen Germany internationals Niklas Suele and Sebastian Rudy snapped up by Bayern Munich.

Nevertheless, Klopp says they will represent a stiff test and was full of praise for their 30-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann.

“When you are fourth in Germany, you are a strong side,” said Klopp, whose side also finished fourth last season.

“It’s a very interesting club. They have a lot of really good young players.

“They lost two of them – Rudy and Suele to Bayern – and had a little change. (They have) a very young manager, just 30 years old, a very talented man.

“First we’ll play Watford, but at the same time we’ll start preparing for Hoffenheim and it’s really exciting.” — AFP