Klopp assures Liverpool fans: no 2014 baggage
Jurgen Klopp does not believe Liverpool’s defeat against Chelsea at Anfield in 2014 will play on the mind of his side as they face the Blues this weekend.
The Reds, who are two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, suffered a 2-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea which helped hand City the 2014 title. “I’m not sure that’s in anyone’s mind. You can tell all the fans out there to ignore it,” Klopp said.
“It’s all about the game on Sunday. Only the colours and the names are the same pretty much. Anyone who wants to talk to any of my players about what happened years ago – don’t do it.”
Klopp is delighted with the recent form of summer signing Naby Keita. “He’s looked really good in training the last few weeks. He found his feet in the Southampton game. He showed a lot of the things we will see in the future much more often. A good moment, long may it continue.”
Klopp also said Liverpool will not rush Joe Gomez’s first-team return, in order to ensure the 21-year-old is fit for the run-in.
“With having Joe Gomez around is strange because you have to make sure he’s 100% fit,” Klopp said.
“Maybe he can get match practice in other games but we will need Joe in other games this season.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is determined to avoid any slip-ups at Crystal Palace this weekend.
After outings in the FA Cup and Champions League in the past week, quadruple-chasing City turn their attention back to their Premier League title challenge at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Some pundits have identified the match as a potential banana skin as they look for the key games where City’s tight battle with Liverpool for top spot will be won and lost.
Palace beat City when the sides met at the Etihad Stadium in December but Guardiola insists City will be ready for the challenge.
When it was put to him it could be a dangerous game, the Spaniard said at a press conference: “That’s true, we knew it weeks ago. Selhurst Park is always difficult, not just for the stadium itself and the quality of the players they have.
“In all departments they are really well organised and they have quality players to do actions one against one, one against two, one against three.
“There are six games to finish the Premier League. We know what we are playing for and we are going to prepare well.”
City’s 3-2 loss to Palace before Christmas came in a run of three defeats in four games that temporarily handed the initiative to Liverpool. City have since recovered to reclaim control of their own destiny, although they head into the weekend trailing the Reds by two points with a game in hand.
Palace have been inconsistent since but they are clear of the relegation battle and on course for a mid-table finish.
City will assess left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko and midfielder Bernardo Silva ahead of the game. The pair have been out with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively.