WE’VE NOT GONE SOFT
Klopp insists Reds can tough it out
JURGEN KLOPP has slammed claims his Liverpool players are a soft touch and easily intimidated on the pitch.
The 3-1 defeat to Leicester on Monday saw the Reds outfought and out-thought in every department and again raised questions about the strength both mental and physical - to maintain a top-four challenge.
The Foxes’ in-your-face approach - typified by Jamie Vardy’s crunching first-minute tackle on Sadio Mane - appeared to take Liverpool’s players by surprise despite having 16 days in which to prepare.
It was their fifth league defeat of the campaign, all of which have come against sides in the bottom half of the table, with claims the players don’t have the stomach for a fight.
But ahead of tonight’s clash with Arsenal Klopp disagreed and said: “We’re usually clean, not ugly challenges, but physical. It’s not a general problem for us.
“Sometimes you need tactical fouls but being harder than allowed I don’t think it makes sense. I never force my players to make fouls.
“We’re always a pretty fair team as even in a challenge we want to keep the ball and not break a leg. Being physical means being ready to hurt yourself not the other player.”
Pool’s opening clash at the Emirates was a thriller which Klopp’s side edged 4-3.
But he said: “It doesn’t feel free-flowing any more. We lack consistency. I’m not a clown - even though a few people think I am. I’m not always laughing like crazy.
“We can’t ignore things that happen around us but I’m optimistic again about the Arsenal game.”