JURGEN’S TARGET MEN

Title pressure is no trouble for Klopp

JURGEN KLOPP knows Liverpool will have a target on their back this season – but it’s nothing new for the Premier League champions.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has already spoken publicly of the club’s desire to do what it takes to catch the Reds.

And while the title holders are always the team to beat, Klopp feels that has always been the case with Liverpool even before they became champions.

“In the beginning since I have been here I was really surprised how much a game against Liverpool meant to all the other teams, even when we were not considered the Liverpool of the past,” said Liverpool boss Klopp.

“We were seventh, eighth in the league and then when you arrive in the stadium, they really have a proper go for it.

“That never changed, so I am not sure whether there can be a bigger target on our back than we already had.

“Last season everybody wanted to beat us. Everybody obviously for a good reason. Not many could do it. So I don’t think that will change.

“Other teams wanted to beat us. That’s good. That is what competition is. But it is about how we feel.

“If we think now about what other teams want to do with us then we already have the first problem.

“We usually don’t think about that, we don’t think about the tactics, what they do, not why they are motivated to win against us.

We think about to win the game.

“If we would change that and think constantly that because we are champions they want to be beat us more then we lose a few percent of our approach, mood, attitude.

I am not ready for that.”

Liverpool begin their campaign at home to Leeds on why we want

September

Arsenal in

Shield today.

The traditional curtain raiser is usually a week before the new campaign but with coronavirus nothing is the same. The season also could be different again with no fans as Liverpool look to defend the title they won by 18 points last season.

“Probably every year harder,” added Klopp. “Was it easy last year? For sure not. It looked in moments but that was only because we were a result machine.

“That is the only reason. It was hard in every game. We had to fight so hard in all the games. “If you make a lot of changes 12 but they face the Community it is to a squad then that is good, but it is more good in the long term than the short term because you need to get used to each other and all that kind of stuff.

“It is not a big advantage, it is a little advantage, but we are used to each other. We know what we are doing in specific moments.

“We know we have to mix it up with a sensational attitude and a sensational desire within the game. We have to be really aggressive in our runs, in our movements – all that stuff.

“We have to be constantly in a 100 per cent mood of always go with what you have.

“Last year it was difficult, the year before it was difficult for City, obviously. It will be difficult for everybody this year but it is not decided yet. So let’s just give it a try.”