WE’LL WIJN UGLY FOR TITLE GLORY
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM has revealed Liverpool are ready to emulate champions Chelsea to sustain a title challenge.
The Holland midfielder admitted the Reds are aiming to win ugly to back up their ability to demolish opponents, as they did during the first half of last season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were beaten just twice in the league before January. But their title bid disintegrated as they failed to see off the likes of Sunderland, Swansea, Leicester and Hull.
Wijnaldum maintains his team-mates have heeded the lessons of the past and are ready to show a renewed consistency next season.
“We know we must read the games better,” he said. “You don’t always have to win beautiful.
“Chelsea is a good example. Last season, they were the best team. They knew what they had to do. That’s what we needed to do. We must make sure we learn from the past and do it this season.
“I won’t say we can immediately win the title. But I think we have a squad that can compete for it. I’m confident we will not make the same mistakes like last season.
“You do it as a team and not as an individual. I have the trust and confidence. It’s not only me, the whole team must have the confidence.”
In their first seven games of the 2016-17 campaign, Klopp’s side racked up 20 goals, before Jose Mourinho took his Manchester United team to Anfield, parked the bus and earned a goalless draw.
Southampton, Swansea and West Ham went on to frustrate the Reds in similar fashion.
But Wijnaldum revealed the Liverpool squad are addressing the issue as part of their pre-season preparations.
“That’s something we have to work on – the confidence,” he said.
“A lot of people said that when a team parks the bus, we don’t have a lot of solutions.
“We worked on it in training, when one team was parking the bus, the other team was still finding solutions. If you have confidence, then you will find solutions, even if a team drops really deep.
“That’s something we have to show this season. We have the players who can still find a way, even if a team drops deep.
“But we have to show it. Against the top seven last season, we didn’t lose a game. Against the lower teams, the games will now be bigger, and I think that it will be different this season.”
Wijnaldum’s crucial first goal in Liverpool’s final-day win over Middlesbrough saw them clinch a Champions League spot.
Klopp has since smashed the club’s transfer record with the £37million capture of Roma winger Mohamed Salah (below top). The Reds are also confident of landing £60m defender Virgil van Dijk (below) from Southampton, and £70m midfielder Naby Keita from Red Bull Leipzig.
Wiljnaldum, signed for £25m from Newcastle 12 months ago, is delighted with the potential for more competition for places. “It’s good for everyone in the team.” he added. “Not only for the manager and the fans but also for the group because you know that, even if a few players are injured, there will be good players to come in.
“This is a top club. You must have an awesome bench.
“A club like Liverpool needs a lot of quality players to compete for the title.”