Triathletes look to start Olympic qualifying in Cape Town
of Liverpool feeling the pressure as they try to win their first league title since 1989-90.
“We have to fight, it’s not about pressure – it’s about enjoying the situation you are in,” Klopp told reporters.
“We have 62 points, have lost one game in the league season so far, which is very positive, but I see your faces, already you feel a bit sorry for us.
“You don’t have to. We are fine. We are fine and everything is good, but of course this was a tough game.
“If you have a day like that, then you get a point at West Ham, for me that’s absolutely fine.”
There was clearly no love lost between Klopp and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini at the end, with some strong words seemingly exchanged about Liverpool’s goal, after Milner appeared to be clearly offside in the build-up.
“Klopp is used to offside, he scored against me with Borussia Dortmund against Malaga, with a goal that was seven metres offside.
“He cannot complain about anything,” said Pellegrini. LOOKING to make up lost ground South Africa’s top elite triathlon women, Gillian Sanders and Simone Ackermann, have the country’s Tokyo 2020 mixed relay hopes in their hands.
The duo’s setbacks last year hampered their hopes of qualifying for individual spots and relay team positions for next year’s Olympic Games.
Their race to qualify starts in earnest this weekend at the Discovery Triathlon World Cup in Cape Town on Sunday.
Sanders, a member of the mixed relay team that won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, said they had their work cut out if they wanted to earn qualification for the quadrennial showpiece.
“The only way I see us qualifying is there is a once-off qualifying event in 2020 where the top three teams that don’t have a slot are selected, so we have a good chance there,” Sanders said.
“The other way we can qualify is if we qualify four athletes – two guys and two girls individually – then we will have a relay team. Those are probably the two most realistic options.”
The first half of 2018 was a collection of crashes for both Sanders and Ackermann.
Sanders crashed twice by June and contemplated retirement after being bombarded by accidents over the first six months. She crashed and cracked her rib at the World Triathlon in Abu Dhabi in March and again took a tumble at WTS Leeds in June.
“The first part of the year was actually an absolute disaster; the Cape Town race was okay where I had an average result there,” Sanders said.
“I found some form towards the end of the year but it was probably one of the most trying, testing years I’ve ever had and I definitely questioned whether I wanted to carry on with the sport in the middle of the year.”
Sanders has been one of the most consistent South African women on the international circuit following Mari Rabie’s retirement after the Rio Olympic Games.
South African-born Ackermann, who switched allegiance from New Zealand, had an equally difficult year in the swim-cycle-run event.
Ackermann made a good start to the year, finishing fourth in Cape Town before she hit a snag at the Commonwealth Games.
She crashed in the women’s race, aggravating an old injury which flared up during the mixed relay event at the Gold Coast.
Starting as lead-off in the relay, Ackermann slowed to a crawl due to the injury, leaving the team’s hopes of a medal in tatters.
“During the relay, I don’t think I quite appreciated how much the crash had flared it up and during the relay, it showed, unfortunately,” Ackermann said.
“It was devastating really, the worst is letting the rest of the team down.”
Ackermann said she would have to make up lost ground to earn points to earn a qualifying spot for Tokyo 2020.
“Having missed out quite a few races, I’ve got quite a bit of work to do, especially in the first half of the season,” Ackermann said.
“But I don’t think you want to be silly about it and just race to chase points. So you want to be specific and make sure you have a good plan and target races where you get a good result when you do the race.”