Klopp: No level playing Huddersfield
JURGEN KLOPP admits despite his Liverpool side being favourites on their visit to Huddersfield tonight, it is still an unswept minefield for him.
Not only will the Reds boss face the man who knows him best in football, he will also travel to Yorkshire knowing there is a remarkable statistic which suggests David Wagner’s team will be more formidable than expected.
Since Klopp arrived at Anfield, his team have lost five of their nine away Premier League games against sides starting the day in the relegation zone – and have won none of their last six.
You have to go back to his first season, in February 2016, for the last time they won against a bottom three team – a 6-0 victory at Aston Villa.
Klopp himself can not quite believe that stat. He shrugged as he considered it then said: “Can we put BY DAVID MADDOCK an embargo on these stats because we don’t want the boys reading these before we go to Huddersfield?”
It highlights perhaps the biggest challenge facing the German coach if his team are to be genuine contenders to lift the title.
They often outplay the top clubs but frequently disappoint against lower Premier League opponents.
The Liverpool gaffer believes it is not a psychological problem but merely a quirk of statistics.
When that impressive win at Villa was mentioned, he said: “The last time, that was my first season? Let’s take it as an example, shall we?
“I don’t know why it happens. I don’t feel anything with it, I wouldn’t have known about it if you hadn’t told me.
“I remember the West Brom game last year which was a game that you win on nine of 10 occasions. That day we didn’t.”
For Klopp, it simply sometimes happens. And he knows it could easily happen at Huddersfield whom he believes are far better than their lowly position at the bottom.
He said: “I use the word ‘trap’. If you look at the table and see one team 18th, three points, you say it’s a clear situation. But it isn’t. I speak a lot to Dave – not this week obviously – and I know the atmosphere in the club is still brilliant.
“Our analyst said, ‘They are much stronger than you would imagine.’ I told my players they have to be ready for a really tough game.
“There’s no reason to be worried about Dave’s situation at Huddersfield. Getting promoted there is a miracle.”