WE HAVE TO POOL TOGETHER

Lennon: Even Klopp & Co have been affected by virus nightmare

THE January review appears to have come and gone.

Neil Lennon was back in his Lennoxtown bunker yesterday fielding questions as normal ahead of tonight’s visit from Hamilton.

A little less bullish and belligerent perhaps than he has been of late but, even so, ready to go back into the trenches again.

A yawning chasm of 23 points now separate Lennon’s team from a rampant Rangers side at the top of the table.

But, despite it all, the manager believes evidence is mounting up elsewhere of the true impact that lockdown is having on the game in general.

One look at Liverpool, for example, suggests he may have a point.

Lennon said: “That is a fair comparison. I’m watching with interest how Liverpool are going this year. There is a 30-point swing between them and Manchester United from this time last year. Now that’s not normal – it’s just not normal.

“Man United have improved but not to the extent of it being a 30-point swing. Liverpool are probably finding things a little bit difficult the way we have, for some reason. It’s difficult to put your finger on it.”

Lennon added: “It’s never over until it’s over. I get it because people see Rangers being really consistent but we’ve just got to look after our own results, start winning games and playing the sort of football we were playing through December when we built a lot of momentum.

“If we can get back to that sort of form then we can hopefully put a run together and finish strong, mentally and physically.

“You thrive on the atmosphere. It brings the best out in you. There has been a flatness about it and that comes from the lack of energy, atmosphere, rawness that normally the players would pick up on and thrive on.”

There’s been a 30-point swing between Man U and Liverpool and that is just not a normal type situation

UNDER THE COSH Jurgen Klopp has found the going tough this season