All Reds playing for their futures, with Arsenal next
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp said everyone at the Premier League club was playing for his future following Monday’s 3-1 defeat by struggling champions Leicester City.
The Merseyside club, who have managed just one win in 2017, have seen their title bid falter as they have dropped to fifth, 14 points behind leaders Chelsea, with 12 games remaining.
“We are all playing for our future – myself included,” Klopp told British media, taking much of the blame on himself.
“I don’t think (the players) are not as good as I think they are, but they need my help to show it every week. I have said it a few times. When we lose, I feel maximum responsibility. Bad performances don’t help anyone. I hope that by using always the word ‘we’ and not ‘they’ I show that I am involved in this. It’s not a moment to make assessments like this, especially not in public. But to say the truth as often as possible, I have to.”
Liverpool host fourth-placed Arsenal on Saturday in a vital clash in the race for Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy says he is hoping to fire regularly after his brace in Monday’s win.
Vardy, who scored 24 league goals during Leicester’s title-winning campaign last year, has been far from his prolific best this season, managing nine goals across competitions so far.
The 30-year-old also scored in backto-back games for the first time since September, having netted in Leicester’s 2-1 Champions League loss at Spanish side Sevilla last week.
“I’ve been very frustrated with the amount of goals I’ve got this season but hopefully those two can push me on and hopefully there will be a lot to follow,” Vardy told British media.
Leicester have been in a turmoil after media reports suggested a players’ revolt led to Claudio Ranieri’s sacking on Thursday, nine months after the manager led the club to the league title.
Vardy, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and winger Marc Albrighton have since denied the allegations.
“We’ve come under a lot of unfair stick with the stuff that’s been in the press,” Vardy said.
“What you’ve seen out there is a reaction from the lads, the performance showed exactly that. Now it’s down to us to do that consistently moving forward.” – Reuters