Klopp wants Reds to take the next step
JURGEN KLOPP knows how good his Liverpool players are. Now he wants them to prove it to the wider public.
With just four games remaining, the Reds are fighting for one of the prized spots in the Champions League for next season.
Things were looking good, but that shock defeat at home to Crystal Palace last Sunday has rattled the nerves.
They are currently third but could slip to fifth ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Watford if both Manchester clubs win today.
Klopp has been pleased with what his players have produced up to now, but he just wants them to finish the job and show real progress has been made.
“We have made big steps but that only works if the players make big steps,” he says.
“When I came here, I heard people saying Adam Lallana was not able to play more than 60 minutes, Jordan Henderson struggled in the captain’s role and Dejan Lovren was not a proper centre-half.
“But they have all made big progress. Yes, they are still not free of mistakes, but that’s life.
“I think we can still develop as a group as long as the players are ready for the next step in their development.
“Everything is fine, but we can bring in more quality and they can push each other to the next level. But for this, we need European football.
“We are stronger than 12 months ago.
“If we had the squad together for the whole year like one or two of the other competitors, we could easily have had four or five points more.
“That would have made a big difference.
“We made a big step but we have been a bit unlucky if you go through our injuries.
“At the wrong moments, we have had two decisive players out and in the last few weeks, there have been three decisive players on the sidelines. “That is not cool.” The three players Klopp is referring to are winger Sadio Mane, Henderson and Lallana.
Mane and Henderson won’t play again this season, but the German has been boosted by Lallana’s return to training
The England cap has grown in stature during Klopp’s time at Anfield and has been a pivotal player this season.
And his likely involvement at Vicarage Road has offered a timely boost.
“It’s wonderful to have Adam back,” he says.
“In our situation, to have a player like him back from injury is great.
“We have to see if he is ready for 45 minutes or more but it’s the best news we could get.
“He is ready, similar to Daniel Sturridge. Daniel played twice and then had a little setback but now he’s back in training.
“Of course they could make the difference. That would be fantastic.”