Klopp says Liverpool have to weather City storm
JURGEN KLOPP expects another “thunderstorm” at the Etihad tonight.
The Liverpool manager is NOT talking about the weather but a repeat of a whirlwind start from Manchester City.
In April, when the Reds last visited the Etihad, Kop boss Klopp was wary of it raining goals, with City needing to score four to turn around a 3-0 deficit in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Gabriel Jesus scored early for Pep Guardiola’s side as they stormed in front.
But Liverpool weathered the early onslaught and came from behind to win 2-1 on the night and book their place in the semi-finals.
Now the Merseysiders face a City side desperate to stay in the Premier League title race but who trail the league leaders by seven points going into tonight’s titanic tussle.
Klopp won’t admit it, but if his side win tonight the defending champions face an almost impossible task of closing a 10-point gap.
Onslaught
City’s backs are against the wall and Klopp is ready for another onslaught from a side he still considers the best in the world despite a December dip that saw them slip from top to third.
Asked if he expected an onslaught, Klopp said: “I think we should.
“I don’t respond in a geographic way, but it will be a very intense game. That is how it is.
“It was a thunderstorm (last season). They said before the game they could do it from 3-0 down, and everyone knew they could.
“It’s a normal game away against Manchester City, a very difficult one, one of the most difficult ones you can play.
“We have to be prepared as good as possible, we have to be brave, full of desire, angry, all that stuff, like in all the other games.
“But the opponent, for me, is still the best team in the world. And I don’t say that to say it, I said it weeks ago.
“Ruthless, full of desire, greedy. Everything you need to be really successful. December was not their month but now it is January.”
Liverpool were hammered 5-0 by City at the Etihad early in last season’s league campaign, which Klopp said was a key moment as they also lost Sadio Mane to a straight red card and a three-game ban.
But while they did not challenge the Manchester club for the title, they did go all the way to the Champions League Final before losing to Real Madrid in Kiev.
And Klopp believes the current squad reaching such a big stage helped ease the burden of the club’s illustrious history and allowed them to make more strides this season.
He likened the weight to a backpack as he continues to dismiss talk of the title and ending their 29-year wait for an English league crown.
“I think we finally got rid of the backpack when we reached the Champions League Final,” Klopp added.
“So that was the moment when we did something really special. Yes, we didn’t win it, but the ride there was unbelievable, the journey was unbelievable. Since then it feels different.
“Long ago we were running around with this kind of backpack. Sometimes they give it to you for a game and then they take it away.
“During the last season, with the very special excitement that the boys delivered with this very special run to the Champions League final.
“I think that was ‘only’ this team. It wasn’t because of 2005. “We have no problems with comparisons. But at some point you have to be yourself and not to try to be like someone else.
Last season we were ourselves.”
If reaching the Champions League Final removed the heavy backpack, then winning the Premier League title will have them walking on air – and they can take a big leap towards that tonight.