Klopp aiming to give Liverpool home comforts
LIVERPOOL: Juergen Klopp has been at pains to point out that he will not be able to transform Liverpool’s fortunes instantly and the Reds boss faces his next challenge today when West Bromwich Albion aim to become the latest visiting side to thrive at Anfield.
Emphatic recent away wins at Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton had some of Liverpool’s more optimistic supporters dreaming not only of Champions League qualification, but of a title challenge this season.
Those expectations will have been tempered by a poor showing in a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle last Sunday — only the second time that Liverpool had been beaten since Klopp took charge just over two months ago.
That defeat left Liverpool eighth in the Premier League going into this weekend’s programme, only two places higher than they were when Brendan Rodgers was sacked on Oct 4.
Today’s home match against Albion is unlikely to be straightforward either as Liverpool’s best displays under Klopp have come away from Anfield.
On home turf, they have looked edgy and nervous for much of the season — winning only three times in the league — and there was little change in their last outing when a James Milner penalty was needed to overcome a limited Swansea side.
The good news for Klopp is that Philippe Coutinho, instrumental in the 4-1 victory at Manchester City three weeks ago, is ready to make his first start since then after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Coutinho made his comeback as a substitute as Liverpool secured top spot in their Europa League group with a 0-0 draw against Sion on Thursday, a match which also saw captain Jordan Henderson make his first start since August.
Henderson has taken time to regain full fitness after suffering two separate foot injuries this season, and was pleased with his workout on a semi-frozen pitch in Switzerland.
“It was nice to play 75 minutes,” Henderson said. “It was a tough game in tough conditions. My fitness was tested on the pitch and I had no problem.
“I’ve just got to keep managing it. But it’s been fine so far.”
The returns of Coutinho and Henderson will be of benefit to Liverpool, who are once again set to be without their injury-prone striker Daniel Sturridge.
England international Sturridge suffered the latest in a long line of setbacks when he picked up a hamstring injury during his appearance as a substitute at Newcastle.
Klopp has indicated that the striker’s new injury is not as serious as his previous problems, but it means that Christian Benteke is likely to lead the attack, despite a poor individual performance at St James’ Park last week.