Klopp at wits’ end after poor run
PSL big two move the chess pieces in derby to little avail
JURGEN Klopp pledged to “fix” his Liverpool team’s chronic defensive problems after a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur left them 12 points adrift in the Premier League title race.
Spurs exploited abject Liverpool defending throughout Sunday’s game at Wembley, with Harry Kane scoring twice as Mauricio Pochettino’s men moved level on points with second-place Manchester United.
Liverpool have now conceded 16 league goals – their worst statistics at this stage of a season since 1964 – and Klopp said his team could forget about climbing the table until they sort things out at the back.
“We don’t have to talk about top four today. We are ninth,” said the Liverpool manager.
“We have the worst statistics since 1964. I can’t believe it. We are where we are, so we deserve that.”
He added: “We have to prove we are better defenders than we showed today.
“We had three unbelievable big scoresheets with Watford [3-3], [Manchester] ORLANDO Pirates coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic described Satu Absa Premiership Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs as a “game of chess”.
The derby again could not produce goals despite some relatively adventurous football from both teams but for anyone with a tactical view on the game‚ it was certainly quite watchable.
Sredojevic’s chess game he refers to began from the starting lineups.
Chiefs coach Steve Komphela resisted changing his three-centreback (Siyabonga Ngezana‚ Daniel Cardoso and Mulomowandau Mathoho) gameplan that earned injuryravaged Amakhosi a 2-1 win against Mamelodi Sundowns last Tuesday.
Sredojevic anticipated this‚ and opted to leave his top scorer and derby performer Thamsanqa City [5-0] and today. That alone is 12 goals we have conceded. That’s crazy.
“You don’t have to talk about quality. If they don’t have quality, they would not be involved in the Liverpool squad, 100%. The only way to fix it is to stay strong and to work on it.
“It’s an open race if you want – who shows me that he wants to play, who shows me that he’s ready to show a reaction.
“We have to show a reaction. We have no right [to do anything else].”
Klopp claimed Spurs’ first goal – when Kane ran in behind the Liverpool back four and rounded Simon Mignolet to score – would not have been scored if he had been on the pitch himself, even “in trainers”.
Kane broke the deadlock in the fourth minute and teed up Son Heung-Min for Spurs’ second eight minutes later after Dejan Lovren had completely misjudged an attempt to head clear a long throw from Hugo Lloris.
Mohamed Salah replied to give the Gabuza on the bench.
Bucs’ coach employed little runners Thabiso Kutumela‚ Thabo Rakhale‚ and Thabo Qalinge to try to expose the space behind Chiefs’ wingbacks Joseph Molangoane and Philani Zulu and between defensive midfielder Willard Katsande and his centre-back trio.
“Tactics are all about covering your weaknesses and expressing your strong points‚ and at the same moment exposing your opponents’ weak points and cover their strengths‚” Sredojevic said afterwards.
“Chiefs know us and we know them. The system that the coach played against Sundowns and again on Saturday‚ has three crucial weak points.
“And even he [Komphela] knows them. The space between [Mulom Mathoho and Philani Zulu on one side‚ between Siyabonga Ngezana and Joseph Molangoane on the other‚ and the space in front of Cardoso‚ behind Willard Katsande.
“Those were crucial spaces where we wanted to enter in attack game a misleading air of competitiveness before further goals from Dele Alli and Kane – both of which stemmed from defensive errors – allowed the hosts to put the game to bed.
Lovren had long departed by then, hauled off in the 31st minute after a disastrous personal display, but Klopp said it would be wrong to point the finger of blame at the Croatian.
“I could have taken another one,” said Klopp.
“It would not have been the biggest difference. We still conceded two more goals after Dejan left the pitch.
“I think he feels not good. That’s OK. Nobody should feel good at the moment.”
Tottenham’s swashbuckling display, allied to Manchester United’s recent struggles, suggest Pochettino’s team are best placed to take the fight to leaders Manchester City in the title race.
With victory having eluded Spurs in the first three games of their Wembley tenancy, Pochettino said results and then to terminate and finish. It was not easy. The opponents were standing very well on the field – nicely packed. And when you are standing like this‚ you are resting the team. And the coach [Komphela] knows it‚ because we were just talking about it.
“And that energy gives them an edge and they were creating later in the game.”
The tactical maneuvering continued into the game as Komphela responded to a less convincing first half by switching from Katsande behind his “two box midfielders”‚ George Maluleka and Pule Ekstein‚ to Maluleka withdrawn next to Katsande. Later Gustavo Paez replaced Ekstein.”
In truth‚ Sredojevic’s game plan‚ while one could see what he was trying to do‚ only half-worked as Kutumela was largely wrapped up‚ and could not exploit the space behind Katsande.
Gabuza’s presence was missed because the big striker could have held the ball up and knocked it into the spaces behind Chiefs’ wingbacks. – and performances – such as Sunday’s would help the place feel like home.
“I am so pleased for the team, for our fans,” said the Spurs manager, whose side trail City by five points.
“Because we start to change that feeling that it was difficult to play here at Wembley and we start to feel that Wembley can be our home. That confidence is so important for the rest of the season.”
Pochettino said Kane was “amazing” after a brace that leaves him as the Premier League’s outright leading scorer on eight goals.
Another famous number 10, Diego Maradona, was in the stands and Pochettino said he had had an “emotional” reunion with his former Newell’s Old Boys teammate. — AFP