LIVERPOOL v SOUTHAMPTON WIN UGLY

Strong against the strong, weak against the weak ... Klopp must cure fatal flaw Saints urged to Puel together to help Gabbi find his killer touch

JURGEN KLOPP says Liverpool must start to appreciate the beauty of winning ugly.

The Reds have had few problems beating the teams at the top of the table, but have been an easy touch for the lesser lights.

Klopp believes it is all down to history – and the demands from Liverpool’s massive worldwide fanbase to entertain.

Now the Kop boss has told supporters that there is nothing wrong with grinding out results. He said: “We have got to learn that we must also enjoy the hard moments in football.

“Look at Chelsea. They are not bothered about excitement in the game.

Hell

“Yes, they are a wonderful football- playing side, but they can also defend for 90 minutes, score one goal, and enjoy it like hell.

“I don’t like the words ‘winning ugly’ too much. But i t feels unbelievably satisfying after a game when not everything went well but you still won.

“Winning these games is really important for our development but winning the big games i s also important because that is still the most difficult thing to do.

“We have just beaten Watford, West Brom and Stoke, but we also lost to Crstal Palace. So we have won three games and lost one – and yet still we have the image that we lose all of them.”

Liverpool have taken four points off Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City, six from Arsenal and Everton and drawn twice with Manchester United.

But they have also had their noses blooded by Burnley, Bournemouth, Hull, Swansea and Palace.

Klopp said: “I really love the atmosphere here. But if you play City and you create a chance and don’t score, it’s not that negative.

“Against Crystal Palace, if you create a chance but don’t score, it’s like the end of the world.

“That is why it is one of the most powerful clubs in the world.

“There are 580million people in front of the television all over the world and the icing on the cake are the people in the stadium.

“We are really planning to use this power, but I am not sure that we have used it i n the past few years in the right way.”

Klopp’s men face Southampton at Anfield today – and Claude Puel’s men have been a bogey side for the Reds this season.

A goalless draw in the Premier League at St Mary’s has been followed by two 1-0 defeats in the semi-final of the EFL Cup.

Klopp said: “We have an easy run-in, apparently. But we all know how strong Southampton are.” CLAUDE PUEL has challenged Southampton’s midfielders to help Manolo Gabbiadini return to his deadly best.

The Italian struck six times in his first four Southampton matches in all competitions, but has since drawn a blank in four Premier League appearances.

Saints laboured to a goalless draw against Hull last time out and must now sharpen up at Liverpool.

And former Nice boss Puel has accepted Gabbiadini (above) needs smarter support.

“Football’s a collective game, a striker needs good quality in the final third,” Puel said. “Manolo is a very good striker but he needs to have good opportunities, to find a Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool Tottenham Liverpool 2-0 Liverpool 1-0 Man City 1-1 Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool 3-1 Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd 1-1 Everton 0-1 Liverpool 3-1 1-1 1-1 Burnley 2-0 Liverpool B’mouth Liverpool 2-2 Liverpool 5-1 Hull City 2-0 Swansea 1-2 Liverpool 2-3 C Palace 2-4 Liverpool 1-2 Liverpool Chelsea Liverpool Tottenham Man City Liverpool Liverpool Arsenal Man Utd Liverpool Liverpool Everton Liverpool 2-1 Burnley 4-3 Liverpool B’mouth Hull City Liverpool Liverpool Swansea Liverpool C Palace good relationship with his teammates who create the possibilities for him, to play in the final third.

“We need to find the spaces, good crosses, good passes, and good balance between the players.

“We have found it in many games but it wasn’t there against Hull and it was difficult for our offensive players to find a solution.”