PRESS? TIME TO IMPRESS
To have last laugh over Mourinho.. thanks to Brazil star Gabriel
DIDI HAMANN reckons Jurgen Klopp needs a Plan B for next season – to stop his Kop stars burning out. Liverpool made a strong start to the last campaign and were title contenders until Christmas. But they ran out of steam in a disastrous January that sabotaged their dreams – and former Anfield midfielder Hamann believes Klopp’s highenergy pressing game is in danger of leaving them knackered again, especially with European action back on the agenda. “Every season is big for Liverpool but this might be bigger because the last thing you want to do is to drop straight back out of the Champions League if you don’t finish in the top four,” said the ex-German international. “So it could be a decisive campaign because at times last season Liverpool looked tired even though they had no European football. “They have got to prove they can compete on three or four fronts and be reasonably competitive in each of them – that’s the big test for Klopp and the team. “I’m intrigued to see how they will get on because I feel they need a Plan B. “They need another way of winning games that doesn’t always involve them playing at 100mph.” Hamann also feels Klopp needs a trophy as he prepares for his third season in charge. Two seasons ago Liverpool lost in the final of the League Cup and the final of the Europa League.
“It’s been five years since Liverpool last won a trophy when they picked up the League Cup,” said Hamann.
“And while staying in the top four and doing well in the Champions League is great for revenue and attracting top players, clearly Klopp has to win a trophy.
“Whether he didn’t properly focus on the FA Cup last time I don’t know. But the bottom line is once you get to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, like they did last season, then over two legs you’ve got to beat Southampton.
“Arsenal have missed out on the big trophies but in the last two or three years they’ve won the FA Cup twice and that has bought Arsene Wenger more time.
“It’s been too long since Liverpool last won a trophy and it’s about time they did.”