SHEFFIELD UNITED LIVERPOOL
Bramall Lane: Tomorrow, 7.15pm
DAVID MADDOCK
JURGEN KLOPP believes he does not need to tear apart his misfiring squad start all over again.
Instead the Liverpool boss argued he will not make kneejerk decisions over his team’s future at the end of the season, saying: “The squad of this year didn’t have the chance to play together really.” Liverpool have slipped from enjoying daylight at the top of the Premier League at Christmas, to being in danger of missing out on the Champions League places, after a disastrous run of just nine points from their last 33. Only tomorrow’s opponents Sheffield United have a worse record in that period but, even though Klopp admits some harsh lessons must be absorbed from their spectacular collapse, he believes it will make this group of players much stronger next season.
“I don’t think it is time for a massive rebuild like how I understand it: six or seven out, running contracts but trying to get rid of them and bring in all the new faces,” he said.
“It would make sense to have a look at that, but on top of that, of course, little readjustments will happen. Reacting on the situation but planning at the same time for the future. I am not sure we can do that in the summer but that is what we will try.
“What we go through now, we have to sort problems now, immediately, and in the long term we can get the benefit of what we are going through – that is clear. There are so many things we can learn from it, about ourselves, and other people.
“We can really learn a lot of things about what we did right when the whole world thought it was wrong and what we did wrong, even when people didn’t realise it.
“But we can’t avoid the truth: it is all about results. The table doesn’t lie. We know that pointswise we are not that far away, but results-wise we are. That is what we have to change. It is a massive challenge, and we have to fight through this but there is no doubt we will do that.”
Klopp also revealed his decision-making has to get better.
“I don’t go and put the finger on my players and blame them for the situation,” he added.
“We are all responsible for it, but mainly I am responsible – I feel massively responsible.
“So it means now I have to make good decisions, better decisions if necessary. I am not here only for the big celebrations, no, I am here for the work. And if it is the dirty work, the hard work, no problem.”
The Reds boss revealed that no decision had been made on whether Alisson would play against Sheffield United, and the keeper will be given time to decide if he will return to Brazil for his father’s funeral.
Liverpool also revealed skipper Jordan Henderson had undergone surgery on an adductor injury, but Klopp insisted he would be back before the season’s end, with the hope that he may be out for between a month and six weeks.
BRENDAN RODGERS insists Leicester have earned the right to be regarded as a topsix club.
But the Foxes chief remains opposed to UEFA proposals to provide wildcard Champions League places based on past performance.
Traditional elite club Arsenal visit the King Power tomorrow eight places and 15 points behind third-placed Leicester.
Rodgers (right) believes past reputation should not come into who lands European places and said it has to be done on merit. He said: “It depends how you define the top six. If it’s financial then we don’t sit in, but if you’re talking football then we’ve been there on merit for the past couple of seasons. From a football perspective, we’ve shown a consistency to challenge that hierarchy.”
SCOTT PARKER says Alphonse Areola should get a shot at the Euros with France after the Fulham keeper’s heroics.
The form of the on-loan Paris SaintGermain man (right) has been key to the Cottagers’s recent revival.
Boss Parker has been impressed with the way Areola, 27, has slotted in seamlessly after spending last season on loan at Real Madrid.
And he believes the goalkeeper – who won the last of his three caps two years ago – could catch the eye of Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps if he continues to boost Fulham’s survival bid. Parker said: “It’s a difficult position to come into joining a new league and he has played fantastic.
“My main aim, my focus for Alphonse is to keep improving and playing the way he is playing and if France come calling then it will be unbelievable for Alphonse and nothing short of what he deserves.”