Klopp has eyes only on West Ham clash despite Napoli demolition job
It’s not about winning 5-0, it’s about winning 1-0 five times much more. We know what we have got to work on JURGEN KLOPP
Jurgen Klopp has insisted he is keeping his feet on the ground as Liverpool gain momentum going into the new Premier League season.
Despite sweeping aside Napoli in impressive fashion 5-0 on Saturday in Dublin, the German manager believes there is still work to be done by his side before they kick off the new season against West Ham United on Sunday at Anfield.
“Endurance-wise, they are not where they have to be for the start of the season so we still have to work on that,” Klopp told Liverpool’s website.
James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum both scored inside the opening 10 minutes at the Aviva Stadium in Liverpool’s penultimate pre-season friendly.
Liverpool lost Milner to a clash of heads with Napoli defender Mario Rui early in the second half in an incident that left the former England international needing 15 stitches.
Mohamed Salah, who hit 32 Premier League goals last term – a record for a 38-game season, added a third for Klopp’s men just before the hour. Daniel Sturridge – who has looked in good form ahead of the new season – and Alberto Moreno rounded out the scoring in the rout against the Serie A side.
The result increases expectations that Liverpool, who reached the Uefa Champions League final in May, where they lost to Real Madrid, can be serious challengers for a first league title since 1990.
Klopp, however, said he was not focused on what outside voices were saying about his team.
He was more concerned with preparing the team for their final friendly with Torino tomorrow and then the first game with West Ham.
“I don’t care what people think now about our team, our squad, that’s really not important,” he said.
“It’s only important that we make sure that we get a team together for the Tuesday game and then, even more important, for the Sunday against West Ham.
“They will be a completely different challenge, we know that already. So, don’t let the expectations grow somewhere because the Premier League is hard work and not flying football.”
As to whether he thinks Liverpool can challenge City, Klopp believes it is too early to tell.
“We will know that after the season because how strong the squad is, the season will show and not the transfers or whatever, or the price you paid, or the money value of the squad. It’s only about the football and that’s what we have to do.”
Liverpool have impressed in pre-season, with the big win over Napoli coming after they had won 4-1 against Premier League rivals Manchester United in the United States last month.
But Klopp said that while winning emphatically was a bonus, the most important thing was getting the three points from games.
“It’s not about winning 5-0, it’s about winning 1-0 five times much more,” he added. “But, of course, it’s much better than we would have lost 5-0 [and have] no confidence and need to work on pretty much everything. We know what we have to work on and we will do that.”
Klopp gave a first start to goalkeeper Alisson, who was signed from Roma over the summer.
Although largely a spectator for much of the game, Klopp was pleased with the Brazilian’s first outing.
“An all-round good performance for the first game, especially because everyone can imagine what happens inside a human being in a situation like that, playing the first game after all the things that were written about it and all that stuff,” he said.
“But, at the end, he’s there to catch balls and he did that in all the decisive moments today, so I’m really pleased.”