WE MUST BE BRAVE
Klopp knows it’s a risk but only way to beat City is to go for goals
JURGEN KLOPP has told his players to go for the jugular in tonight’s Champions League clash of the big beasts.
The Liverpool boss knows his stars cannot sit back and wait to be torn apart by Manchester City’s pack of predators.
Instead, they must be on the front foot and take the fight to the runaway Premier League leaders.
Klopp has described it as the tie of the round, and one that the whole world will be tuning in to see, and there is no wonder.
Pep Guardiola’s side are a wonderful attacking side, but Liverpool are the one team to match them in that department. In fact, Liverpool are top scorers in the Champions League this season with 34 goals.
Klopp has also overseen six wins against Guardiola – the best record of any manager – including this season’s thrilling 4-3 victory at Anfield.
The German said: “Look, it’s difficult to be brave against them because you can suffer. But it is unbelievably difficult to defend against them – and hoping for a clean sheet against Manchester City does not make much sense.
“Yet we are difficult to defend against, too. You give us the chance to play one pass and it is very difficult to stop the next one. We either miss the chance or we score.
“If you are West Brom, you cannot be brave against City because you cannot attack them high or they run through you like a warm knife through butter. You have no chance.
“But we can. You need to have a plan for your players and then it is a mix of quality and character. We all have to use the skills of the players.”
For Klopp, the key now is courage. He knows City will score goals against his side, because they do against every team in Europe. He knows – quite simply – his team must score more. And the Reds’
manager believes his players can do just that, with a mixture of a high-octane game fuelled by the speed and brilliance of front three Mo Salah (right), Sadio Mane and Firmino, and the help of passionate Anfield crowd.
“If you are brave, if you are ready to make mistakes, if you are ready to enjoy the work and your attitude is at the highest level, if your character is at the highest level, then you have a chance. And that’s the only thing I need,” said Klopp. “It is a Champions League quarter-final so a very difficult game – but for Manchester City as well, and that’s the only thing I need to think about. So we know what we have to do... we only have to do it now! We did it before against City and a lot of times in other games.” Klopp was detailed in his analysis of City’s threat as he discussed where they will be so dangerous for his side. But in studying the situation, he believes he has exposed areas where his rivals can be vulnerable.
“They are special in a lot of ways – creativity, decision making, mixed up with speed and rhythm,” he added.
“That is quite special, but also there are spaces on the pitch for us, because you cannot play the way City do and be 1000 per cent compact in the same situation, it is not possible. I need to exploit situations like that, be lively and active and that is all you have to do. In the end the plan is not complicated, it is just that the players have to do it right.
“You suffer in a game like this, you lose each other, you can look a little silly playing one way or another. But we must not be worried – just go for it! Because in the next attack you could get your next chance.
“When you have the ball you need to be brave, you need the skills – and the skills of my boys are not too bad...”