KOP KINGS ARE SKATING ON THIN ICE
Klopp wants a win, not marks for playing beautiful football
JURGEN KLOPP insists winning is more important than playing beautiful football.
Liverpool bid for a place in tomorrow’s draw for the Champions League group stages and are happy to win ugly. Klopp’s men earned a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their play-off at Bundesliga side Hoffenheim last week and tonight they aim to finish the job at Anfield. The Germans can count themselves unlucky not to be level going into the return leg, while Hoffenheim midfielder Kerem Demirbay said his team play better football than Liverpool. But Klopp couldn’t care less. “I don’t think about this at all,” said the Liverpool manager. “It’s not ice skating where judges decide on the beauty. You are playing football and what matters is winning. “I do like Kerem. He’s an excellent player but he knows like me that football is not all about beauty.” Klopp rested several key players for Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League home win over Crystal Palace to keep them fresh for tonight. Mohamed Salah, Dejan Lovren, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alberto Moreno are set to be restored to the starting line-up, while Emre Can should also play after recovering from a cold.
Table
Winning tonight would see Liverpool into the Champions League group stages for only the second time since former boss Rafa Benitez left in 2010 and Klopp called on fans to play their part.
He said: “I do not think in life it makes a lot of sense that if you have a big chance, you think about the consequences if you lose it.
“In finals you go for it and try your best. Is it good to be in a final? Yes. Is it good to lose it? No. But the only possibility to lose it, is to go to it.
“I will not think about this when I am at home in my bed and thinking about the game.
“It is not about what can happen, it is about what we can influence. That is what is important.
“I know it is a legend of Anfield on European nights, they are really special and we need these special nights.
“Everyone who wants this needs to do their job tomorrow. I can guarantee the boys will fight for everything.
“It does not mean we will do it, but it means we will fight for it.
“I hope we will show the world what we are able to do.”
Defender Joel Matip knows all about the danger of Hoffenheim who, like Liverpool, made the play-offs by finishing fourth in their domestic league.
Matip was used to going toe-to-toe with tonight’s opponents when he played for Schalke in the Bundesliga.
He made the move to Merseyside to be part of the big European nights and feels that it is time for Liverpool to step up to the challenge. Matip said: “We worked hard the whole of last year for this opportunity.
“It’s a result of our hard work and we see it as an opportunity.
“Every one of us wants to play in the Champions League. They all want to stand on the field and not watch it on television.
“The tradition of this club means they’ve had a lot of European nights.
“I want to be a part of this. The atmosphere is going to be something special against Hoffenheim.”
Ranks
The Germans have Premier League experience in their ranks.
Striker Andrej Kramaric had a stint at Leicester and defender Havard Nordveidt, who scored an own goal in last week’s first leg, spent last season at West Ham.
Julian Naglesmann, who was the youngest boss in Bundesliga history when he took charge in October 2015, only turned 30 last month but insists he will not be overawed.
He said: “We are good enough not to have to hide here. We know this is a great club with a great history but my feeling is excitement.”