Klopp’s not home alone
BOSS HAILS TOGETHERNESS
JURGEN KLOPP felt alone when Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace in 2015 – but he will not feel like that again even at an empty Anfield tonight.
Many fans walked out after Scott Dann’s 82nd-minute winner. And Klopp couldn’t believe what he was seeing in his first defeat as Liverpool boss just a month into his reign.
Klopp delivered a speech in the post-match press conference, blasting supporters who headed for the exits with time still to be played. He implored them to stay until the death and help the team fight for every goal. They would soon fall in line.
Ironically, it will be Palace who will visit Anfield for the first behind-closed-doors Premier League game at the ground tonight.
But this time Klopp knows the Reds fans are with his team through thick and thin as they sit on the verge of their first title in 30 years.
“On that day I felt literally alone because so many people left the stadium, and I thought it was important to make a statement that things had to change,” said Klopp.
“We had to change and supporters could change as well if they wanted to help.
“I’ve never felt alone again since then and I will not feel alone when something special will happen, whenever it will happen.”
Now they host Roy Hodgson’s side sitting 20 points ahead at the top of the table.
A lot has changed since that match in 2015 just a few weeks after Klopp had taken over from Brendan Rodgers.
Adam Lallana is the only player remaining at Liverpool who started the game, while Roberto Firmino, Dejan Lovren and Divock Origi came off the bench.
“It was a cold night against Palace, I remember that, but I don’t know too much about that time any more,” said Klopp, whose side have not lost at home in the Premier League since April 2017 – that last defeat also at the hands of Palace.
“The only thing I know is the team we had at the time, and the team before that, was the basis for what we have now.They created the mood we could build on, even if the mood was not that good in the moment.
“We had to use the fact that people wanted to change things. If people don’t want to change and think everything is fine because a new manager is coming, then nobody is bothered.
“The situation was our starting point and losing to Crystal Palace that night maybe helped more because I could make this kind of statement after the game.
“It was not planned, it was just what I felt, and it helped us to come together closer because people discussed the influence of fans in the stadium that night.”