Klopp hopes clash will spur his side on
JURGEN KLOPP is convinced his Liverpool side will rise to the big occasion once again when they bid to get an increasingly challenging season back on track against Tottenham next weekend.
Klopp may be permitted a sigh of relief over the stature of the Reds’ next opponents after their dismal recent record against the Premier League’s so-called lesser teams continued in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Hull.
A goal in each half from Alfred N’Diaye and Everton reject Oumar Niasse extended Liverpool’s calamitous run since the start of 2017 to just one win in 10 in all competitions and suggested they will struggle to keep their grip on a Champions League qualification place.
While Klopp admitted he remains baffled by his side’s inability to polish off the division’s smaller sides, he has not lost his faith in their ability to fight back when the test appears to tougher.
Klopp said: “In a few days we have another opportunity to play football and we can show then that we are ready for all the other games, because it’s Tottenham, who are a top team in the league.
“I think it would make sense for us to play our best in this game, and then we have to prove the other thing (that Liverpool can beat the lesser sides) later in the season. SERGIO AGUERO has vowed to work hard for the remainder of the season to convince Manchester City his future remains at the club.
City’s top scorer has been among the substitutes for the last two Premier League games while impressive new signing Gabriel Jesus has led the line.
Jesus continued his stunning start to life at City by scoring both goals in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Swansea at the Etihad Stadium, including their last-gasp winner. MANCHESTER UNITED took apart Leicester’s shambolic defence, giving Jose Mourinho’s men a timely shot in the arm as the reigning champions’ descent continued.
Few expected Claudio Ranieri’s men to scale the same heights as last season’s fairytale Premier League triumph, yet few could have foreseen such a drop-off.
Leicester end the weekend just a point off the drop zone after United condemned them to a fourth consecutive top-flight loss, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata racking up a 3-0 win as comfortable as it sounds.
Victory saw United bring the Champions League spots to within two points as Mourinho’s players responded to his calls to be more clinical, ending a frustrating run of three straight league draws in the process.
Mkhitaryan’s exceptional run and finish saw United break the deadlock three minutes before the end of a tight first half, with Ibrahimovic’s first-time strike 88 seconds later giving them a comfortable lead at the break.
Leicester needed to respond but Ranieri’s men wilted under the King Power Stadium floodlights and Mata, who was perhaps fortunate not to receive a first-half red card, turned home four minutes after the restart.
There were no further blows to fragile Leicester’s confidence but the manner and margin of this loss means all eyes are on the reigning champions, whose efforts were booed at the final whistle.
Kasper Schmeichel admits Leicester’s Premier League title defence has been “embarrassing” and believes his side are in serious danger of being relegated following defeat to Manchester United.
Ranieri’s side, still without a goal in 2017, end the weekend a point above the drop zone after goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata gave United a comfortable 3-0 victory at the King Power Stadium.
Goalkeeper Schmeichel said: “It’s not good enough and it sums our season up at the moment.
“Let’s not talk about last season, last season’s gone, as you can clearly see.
“We need to stand up and be counted. This season from top to bottom hasn’t been good enough.
“It’s not a situation that’s comfortable at all. We’re the reigning champions and quite frankly it’s been terrible, it’s been embarrassing.
“We have to improve right now. It’s time for every single one of us, right from the top to the bottom of this club to stand up and be counted because if we don’t we’re going to end up getting relegated and nobody wants that.”
When asked about a supposed rift between some of Leicester’s players and manager Claudio Ranieri, Schmeichel added: “I’m not going to comment on any newspaper speculation. I know what’s going on in the dressing room.
“We’re a group of players who are low on confidence but certainly not low on fight. We’ll fight to the end, whatever that might be but I can guarantee every player in there is hurting.”
Ranieri dismissed speculation that he has a problem with some of his players.
“Last season is something terrific, now we’re Leicester, every time we have to fight, that’s it,” he said.
“We’re together, I have full confidence in the players and also the players are confident with me. They are happy with me.”
Sunday’s win moved United to within two points of the top four as they push for a return to the Champions League.
Manager Jose Mourinho, who felt the success was straightforward, shrugged off suggestions that midfielder Mata could have been sent off.
The Spaniard was booked for a late tackle on Jamie Vardy while the game was still goalless but Mourinho insists it his side who are getting a raw deal from referees.
“I have to look on TV but if I compare that with what [Claudio] Bravo io) did to [Wayne] Rooney in the Man City game, there is no possible point of comparison,” he said.