SQUEAKY BUM TIME FOR KLOPP
Liverpool gaffer admits Tottenham is a must-win game for his struggling team
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp admits Sunday’s trip to Tottenham is a “massive” game for his frustratingly inconsistent side.
The Reds have accrued almost as many points from six Champions League matches ( 15) as they have from a dozen games in the Premier League ( 16).
In midweek they enjoyed a moraleboosting 2- 0 win over Napoli, arguably Europe’s form side, to add to two victories they have enjoyed over Manchester City in the league and Community Shield this season.
But, domestically, they have lost their last two games to Nottingham Forest and Leeds, who were both in the bottom two at the time, and points- wise Liverpool are closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last nine encounters against Spurs but, as they are already 10 points behind their opponents, the trip to London is one they have to win.
“Big game for us. Massive game – and difficult as well, Spurs away,” said Klopp.
“I didn’t count the points distance between us and them but we have to go for it. We know it is difficult, we all know Tottenham is a side that is well- organised, and counterattacking is a massive thing.
“Spurs is in a good moment, turned their last two games around in the last minute and the last one was an extremely big one so they are confident and strong.”
Klopp is not a subscriber to the suggestion his team perform better against the better sides.
Even though they have beaten
City and Napoli, they have lost to league leaders Arsenal and Manchester United, having also dropped points against Fulham, Brighton, Everton and Palace.
“We didn’t only do that ( perform against top sides). Bournemouth, we won 9- 0 and against Rangers ( 7- 1).
“Our problem, why we changed system, one is the availability of players and the other is we were not as solid defensively.
Attack
“You can always point a finger at the things you don’t do well or you give a completely new text book and that is what we tried.
“Our problem in these moments was defending as a unit. We defended Napoli well, we closed the right gaps, chasing from the pack, our counterpress was good, high last line so we could be high up in midfield.
“We defended in a system better than five or six weeks ago and, if we defend, we have to attack as well.”
On a positive note, the Napoli game saw striker Darwin Nunez score his fifth goal in seven games, while midfielder Fabinho showed a return to form after a dreadfully poor start to the season.
“Big steps – and still space for improvement because the boy’s an incredible package,” said Klopp of Nunez.
“You could see immediately he is a real threat in the finishing area, involved in a lot of things.
“You then realise a few big chances he missed, imagine he would have scored from them as well.
“He’s involved in pretty much everything. He’s always an option to pass to or cross the ball to.
“He came on, didn’t play extremely long but involved in both goals. It’s good, it’s big steps.”
On Fabinho, he added: “It’s good.
The game was a clear sign of Fabinho, how we know him.
“For him it was very important to realise it was possible as well. A good start in the right direction.”
Klopp insists the club handled James Milner’s concussion injury correctly in the midweek Champions League win over Napoli.
Break
The midfielder is unavailable for Sunday’s game after being forced off early in the second half following a head injury before the interval.
Klopp said all the necessary checks had been made and it was only when the 36- year- old returned to the pitch after the break that he reported a problem.
“It is not that easy because you need two sources, one is the doctor, one is the patient,” said Klopp.
“For me it was clear; he got a real check on the pitch and he was fine when it happened, in the dressing room in our meeting Millie was fine and, after calming down, came out into the floodlights and was like ‘ Woah, what is going on here?’.
“The player realised ‘ that is not good’ and that is when we stopped and he sat down and we took him off.
“If a doctor feels he is not all right, then he is gone, there is no chance for the player to say ‘ No, I am fine’.
“Everybody takes it really seriously. Nobody wants to push a player through with a concussion.
“There is the old story with Mr Clough, was it him; ‘ How is he?’. ‘ He got a knock, he doesn’t know who he is’. ‘ Tell him he is Pele and send him back!’.
“It is a good joke but we don’t do that nowadays. We really take it seriously, that is definitely the case and it was the first moment we knew and then it was ‘ here we stop’.”