Focusis backfor myReds
JURGEN KLOPP has revealed how Liverpool have learned to take a step back in order to fly forward.
The Reds boss faces Sevilla tonight with his team on a high after a scintillating run of form.
In four matches they have scored 13 goals but conceded just one – and their manager admits it is down to a change in defensive philosophy.
Klopp said: “There were a lot of things we changed to make us more stable. What we need is to be 100 per cent focused in these moments. That is defending – being focused.” THe last time Scott Brown travelled to the Parc des Princes for a group B encounter it turned out to be one of the greatest nights of his career.
That was a decade ago when he played his part in Scotland’s famous win against France, thanks to James McFadden’s wonder goal.
But if history repeats itself for the Celtic skipper on his return to the same stadium in Paris then it will rank an even better achievement.
Brown and his team-mates face the daunting challenge of taking on Champions League favourites PSG in their own backyard – the hardest club game in world football.
Undefeated in their last 41 games at home, Unai Emery’s Ligue 1 champions are the most expensive side in world football at around half a billion pounds.
Brown knows the task facing Brendan Rodgers and his side as they look to avenge that 5-0 defeat in Glasgow in their opening Group B fixture.
But he can draw inspiration from his last trip in September 2007 when Scotland were written off against a French side who were beaten World Cup finalists just a year earlier.
The likes of Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet and Nicolas Anelka were on show but Alex McLeish’s men dug in and a moment of brilliance won the Euro 2008 qualifier to complete a group double over Les Bleus.
As he prepares to fly out to Paris this morning Brown said: “I remember it well. I ran about silly for 90 minutes, got three touches of the ball, defended really well and Faddy scored an unbelievable goal!
“Craig Gordon told me he assisted but that about sums up the night. They were the best team in the world at the time and we went over as underdogs and defended for our lives.
“We created a couple of chances, nothing major, and Faddy scored that unbelievable goal from about 40 yards out.
“Everyone was telling him to control the ball and keep it but somehow he managed to put it in the back of the net and it will go down as one of the best nights in my Scotland career.
“It’s up there with the best results of my career overall because we were playing against top-quality players. We had two
SEVILLA v LIVERPOOL
right-backs in me and Alan Hutton, nobody went forward and we were up against Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka.
“We took a man each and defended and hoped they wouldn’t get past us. We did a good enough job to get away with that 1-0 win and Craig was brilliant again in goals.
“It’s not all about miracles. It’s about playing hard and playing smart as well and we’ll have to do that again. But a win on Wednesday would be a bigger achievement than the victory with Scotland because of the money PSG have spent.
“It’s the hardest game in the world right now. They want to win the Champions League and they look like the team to beat so if we go over there and get any sort of result it will be fantastic.”
Asked what the game plan was in 2007, Brown quipped: “To defend for 90 minutes and kick anything that moves – it suited me perfectly!”
But he knows Rodgers wouldn’t send his players out with a similar approach and Brown wants his side to try to express themselves.
That could be easier said than done but he knows there must be an improvement from the first game when they were outclassed by the French.
While the devastating front trio of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani grabbed the headlines, the midfielders were outstanding with Adrien Rabiot, in particular standing out, and Marco Verratti.
Brown said: “We have a manager who likes us to go and express ourselves in the final third and if I get in there I will let you know how that goes.
“He puts demands on the front three or front four to express themselves high up the park or go and take somebody on one on one.
“For me James Forrest with the way he has been playing this season, if anyone is going to do it then you have to believe it will be him. He’s got the pace to do it and he’s got the quality to score