Klopp feels heat as Liverpool eye group phase

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp concedes his side are already feeling the pressure this season ahead of the return leg of their Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim tomorrow morning.

Liverpool looked to have planted one foot in the group phase after going 2-0 up in last week’s first leg in Germany, only for Mark Uth’s 87thminute reply to bring Hoffenheim right back into the tie.

The five-time European champions needed a late Sadio Mane goal to see off Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday and Klopp anticipates another knife-edge occasion at Anfield in mid-week.

“We all have pressure and it’s a quick start always,” said Klopp, who reached the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

“You need to be there immediately, deliver and all that stuff. The difference this year is that it’s really hard.

“We all know a draw (against Palace), two points instead of four or six, it doesn’t feel good, but you can sort it.

“You can’t do this in a Champions League qualifier. This intensity is really hard, for both teams.”

Klopp made five changes to his starting XI for the 1-0 victory over Palace, with debutant Andy Robertson, Ragnar Klavan, Joe Gomez, James Milner and Daniel Sturridge coming into the side.

Having started on the bench, Dejan Lovren, Emre Can and star signing Mohamed Salah are all expected to return to the starting line-up against Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim.

Young rightback Trent Alexander-Arnold could also return, having been rested against Palace after setting Liverpool en route to victory in Sinsheim with a memorable 25-yard freekick.

Liverpool are likely to still be without Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho, the subject of three unsuccessful bids from Barcelona, who continues to nurse a back problem.

But Robertson believes the fire-power on show against Palace demonstrated the strength in depth in Liverpool’s attacking unit.

“It’s brilliant when you get the ball and you look up and you’ve got Sadio, Roberto (Firmino), Studge (Sturridge) in the first half and Mo (Salah) came on with big Dom (Solanke),” said the former Dundee United leftback.

“It’s great to have the options. We’re not fully up to speed yet, but we’re getting there and when we are, we’ll be a threat.”

Liverpool are bidding to reach the Champions League group phase for only the second time since 2010.

Their last participation in 2014-15 having come to an end in the group stage, it is now over eight years since Anfield last hosted a knockout-phase match in the competition.

Elimination at the hands of European debutants Hoffenheim would represent a monumental setback for Klopp, who was hired partly on the strength of his fine continental record with Dortmund.

But Liverpool’s fans will draw encouragement from the fact that in 14 previous European home games against German teams, their team have never been beaten.

Hoffenheim geared up for the trip to Liverpool with a 1-0 win at home to Werder Bremen on Saturday, courtesy of a deflected shot from substitute Andrej Kramaric in the 84th minute.

“I wouldn’t say no if a few deflected goals fly in on Wednesday,” said head coach Nagelsmann, who led Hoffenheim to a best-ever fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga last season.

“A 2-0 win is the big plan. A 3-0 would be nicer.”

Nagelsmann rested six of the team who started against Liverpool last week, including burly striker Sandro Wagner and Germany winger Serge Gnabry.

Kramaric, who squandered an early penalty in the first leg, only came on for the last 25 minutes, but in a potential good omen for Wednesday, he managed to make his presence count. – AFP