Klopp wants consistency

– Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp hopes his side’s Jekyll and Hyde nature is a thing of the past as they aim to avoid a European hangover at home to Bournemouth today.

Victory will take Klopp’s men another step closer to sealing a return to the Champions League next season just days after they booked their place in the semifinals for the first time in a decade.

The five-time European champions thrashed runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate in two thrilling quarterfinal performances.

Liverpool lead fifth-placed Chelsea by 10 points, although the reigning Premier League champions do have a game in hand.

However, one of those reverses was a shocking 1-0 loss at Swansea just eight days after a memorable 4-3 win over City at Anfield, something Klopp is keen to avoid a repeat of.

“We mature constantly. The boys get more and more used to situations like that,” said Klopp after beating City for a third time in four meetings this season.

Vital to Liverpool’s greater consistency has been the presence of centreback Virgil van Dijk (above).

The Dutch captain cost a world record £75 million for a defender in January, but has lived up to his price tag in marshalling a defence that has conceded just seven goals in their past 13 matches in all competitions.

Van Dijk has brought a leadership previously lacking in Liverpool’s backline and has helped accentuate huge improvements in those around him such as goalkeeper Loris Karius, centreback partner Dejan Lovren and inexperienced fullbacks Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool rode out what Klopp called a “whirlwind” first 45 minutes from an all-out attacking approach from Pep Guardiola in midweek, conceding only once when Van Dijk claimed he had been fouled before Raheem Sterling set up Gabriel Jesus.

Bournemouth enjoy a 10-point cushion above the relegation zone and winger Ryan Fraser believes they have nothing to lose from their trip to Anfield.

“Against the top teams, you need to forget about the relegation battle and just enjoy it,” said the Scot. – AFP

We mature constantly. The boys get more and more used to situations like that. Juergen Klopp Liverpool manager