Klopp pumped up for post-Qatar fight
JURGEN KLOPP says heavy-metal football will be back at Liverpool after the World Cup – with his side returning to their iron-man best.
Asked if it would be a different Liverpool when the Premier League resumes after Christmas, the manager did a strongman pose, with fists above his head pumping muscles, and saying: “If different means this, then yes!” The Reds are five points off fourth but Klopp believes they will be back to their intense best after Qatar. He said: “Yes we will be different, yes we will have trained, yes we will have players back but it also depends on how the players come back from the World Cup. I’ve no idea about that.
“If they all come back healthy from the World Cup... if they all go out early and have a break and can then train with us for three and a half weeks that would be absolutely outstanding but there are a lot of ‘ifs.’”
Liverpool are perhaps in a stronger position than most of their rivals regarding the World Cup, with Mo Salah, Thiago, Andy Robertson, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota not even going to the finals.
In fact, only three Reds look certain starters in Qatar: Holland’s Virgil van Dijk, Brazil goalkeeper Alisson and Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez.
Klopp’s priority now is to ensure his team win their three Premier League games before the World Cup break, starting against Leeds tonight.The Reds are 12 points behind leaders Arsenal and 10 adrift of Manchester City.
Asked if his team are near enough to close the gap in such a strange season, Klopp said: “If we had won in Nottingham we would be closer now. I know that but we didn’t so I shouldn’t be talking about that.
“The problem is when we talk about our situation and how we can improve it, it sounds like we just have to play better but then there is still an opponent.”