Jurgen aims to make it really tough at the Kop
REDS NEED FIGHTING SPIRIT
JURGEN KLOPP has warned his Liverpool stars to get tough or they’ll blow their Premier League title hopes.
The Reds boss claims he has learned from his side’s defeat to West Ham before the international break – and now it’s time to show it against Arsenal in today’s teatime kick-off.
Liverpool have shown a softer side recently by allowing opponents to cruise through them and find a way to goal.
Gabriel Jesus was able to coast on the ball in their draw with Manchester City last month to help set up one of the goals in the 2-2 clash. Atletico Madrid also cut them open in the away leg of their Champions League match.
But more costly to the Reds was Leandro Trossard’s equaliser for Brighton three weeks ago in a move which saw the Seagulls take the ball from their keeper to the goal without a Liverpool player getting a touch.
Jarrod Bowen was another who benefitted from some weak play in midfield during West Ham’s win over the Reds.
His run set up Pablo Fornals for the Hammers’ second and it irked Klopp.
“Each defeat is good after you get over it,” said Klopp. “The goal I hated most was the counter attacking goal because we have to defend it better. This bit of aggression that we can show more.
“There are things we can do better. Arsenal do counter-attacks as well, especially if you let them.
“You have to do better, but the rest we have to improve. That is what we knew before and we saw that again.
“We scored an awful lot of goals but we conceded too many as well. That is how it is and that is where we have to improve.
“You only get consistency through defending and we have to defend at our highest standard. This game is a very good example of that, if you do not defend against Arsenal on the highest level, you should not even try to go there. It makes no sense.”
If Liverpool lose to Arsenal today for the first time since 2012 at Anfield, then the Gunners will go above them in the table.
That would have been seen as remarkable a month ago as the Reds were on a 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
But now they need three points to stay on the tails of league leaders Chelsea as well as Manchester City.
Klopp added: “When you have the momentum, you have to treat it really carefully and when you don’t have it, you have to fight with all you have to get it back.”