Klopp calls for Kop kickstart
JURGEN KLOPP has urged his players to grab the momentum back in a faltering season after admitting Anfield has lost its positive vibe since the turn of the year.
The Liverpool manager held an extra-long team meeting on Sunday at Melwood to discuss the reasons for a run of just two points from the past nine on offer in the league this year.
He told his squad they need to produce a performance tomorrow in the EFL Cup against Southampton – having fallen 1-0 behind in the first leg of the semi-final – in order to bring hope and belief back to Anfield.
“I can feel it around us – it is not that positive any more,” said Klopp. “It is our turn to bring everybody back on track.
“It is a night game at Anfield and the impact of a win would be unbelievable. It would get an outstanding performance from the crowd. It is going to be difficult because Southampton are in a good run at this moment, but at 1-0 everything is still possible for us and we want to go to the final.”
Klopp’s belief that Liverpool are entering a pivotal part of their campaign is evident from the meeting, which was both longer and more formal than his usual post-training sessions.
He encouraged his players not only to kickstart their year, but also to embrace their role as the Premier League’s entertainers. “The goals we have conceded in 2017 have been a little bit of the same story,” said Klopp. “The influence of throw-ins is a little bit too big on the goals we concede. But it is also about enjoying the role we have.
“We are Liverpool, and a really good football-playing side, and [at the moment] we don’t enjoy the job we have to do.”