WE HAVE TO GOAL FOR IT
Klopp on the attack in hunt for trophies
JURGEN KLOPP says Liverpool have no choice but to entertain – until they start winning silverware again.
While Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has taken plenty of flak for his defensive approach in the build-up to today’s clash, Klopp accepts he hasn’t yet earned the right to play the same way.
Mourinho was heavily criticised for his cautious tactics in October’s goalless draw at Anfield, with Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren this week claiming he will try to park the bus again at Old Trafford.
But Klopp says United knew what they were getting when they appointed Mourinho – just like the Reds did when they brought him in to replace Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.
And anyway, you can do what you want as a manager when you’re winning.
“All the clubs in England who signed a foreign manager knew what they would get,” said Klopp. “Liverpool needed somebody who started the development with a big thirst for being immediately successful, which is quite difficult.
“That didn’t happen but everyone can see that the way we are going is positive at least. If you win the title next year then everyone will know it was a good signing.
“If you want to have the most fluent offensive football and be successful, then I think Pep Guardiola is a good choice to be honest. Antonio Conte’s doing a fantastic job.
“We try. If Liverpool won the league then after the season no one would ask how it happened, nobody.
“With our way there are no guarantees we will go there because of different things, but we have to convince the people first with our style of football.
“We cannot play very defensive and not being successful, it just doesn’t work.
“We have so many fans all over the world who watch us.
Bagged
“They must get something if they don’t get silverware at the end of the season.”
Liverpool’s all-action attack has bagged 105 goals so far this season to fire them into third in the league, two points behind United, and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Star of the show has been 32-goal hero Mohamed Salah, who was yesterday named Premier League Player of the Month for the second time this term.
But Klopp knows he will eventually be judged by what his side put in the trophy cabinet rather than how many times they hit the back of the net.
He came close to two trophies in his first season that would have made his debut campaign identical to Mourinho’s.
But the Merseysiders lost the finals of the League Cup and Europa League in 2016 while United were victorious in both under Mourinho 12 months later.
“United won two titles last year,” said the German. “If we had won the two finals we played in my first season here everything would have settled on another level. It would have helped massively.
“It wouldn’t have changed our style of play but it would have been a sign.
“In this moment it’s always, ‘Liverpool are good but...’ We know that.
“What doesn’t help us we have to ignore. We have to use the skills and the talent and attitude of the boys to be as successful as we can.”