Klopp wants Reds to rise up against City
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp turned to a German phrase in an attempt to explain why his side’s home form has dipped so alarmingly – but unfortunately its meaning was lost in translation.
The Reds have taken one point from three games in losing a 68-match unbeaten league run at Anfield and have not scored in that time – their worst goalscoring drought at home since October 1984.
“We destroy with our backsides what we build with our hands, pretty much,” said Klopp.
With his audience somewhat bemused, his explanation – “It’s a translation from a German phrase” – was still greeted with a collective shrug of shoulders.
Whatever the meaning, Klopp knows he has to get across a clear message to his players when in-form Premier League leaders Manchester City arrive today.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won 13 matches in a row in all competitions and are threatening to put together the sort of run which will leave their title rivals trailing in their wake.
Klopp continued: “We have to defend City with everything we have and we have to play football on a high level.
“You have to mix a few special things. It’s possible, that’s the good thing about football. Even when you have lost the last game everything is possible.”
For Wednesday’s defeat at home to Brighton, Klopp was unable to pick six of the club’s top eight record transfers – £312 million worth of talent – due to injury.
Virgil Van Dijk (£75m), Alisson Becker (£65m), Naby Keita (£54m), Diogo Jota (£45m), Fabinho (£43m) and Sadio Mane (£30m) were all sidelined. Mo Salah (£36m) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£35m) were the only players of the top eight available.
Klopp hopes to have Alisson, Fabinho and Mane back and admits they just have to work through their problems.
“We lost and we deserved to lose, we cannot ignore that, but we can ignore the other things,” he said.
“This is a tricky season for us. They are all really good players. We have to get through this and play better football.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists mind games have never been part of his managerial make-up.
The build-up to City’s trip to Anfield has been spiced up by comments from Klopp claiming the visitors benefited from “a two-week break for Covid reasons” over Christmas. Guardiola expressed surprise at the remarks.
“I didn’t expect it, not from him,” said Guardiola before adding he would speak to the German to clarify the situation.
Guardiola went on: “I am not judging what the other managers said, what they comment. What Jurgen said, the purpose I don’t know, I will ask him on Sunday.
“Sometimes we do that. It is difficult for managers right after the finish of the game and you are so excited for the good thing or bad thing, you have to say in a microphone your opinions about decisions. It is not easy.
“But, here, before – when relaxed at a press conference, I never did it. Or maybe I did it once or twice for an exceptional reason but not to propose (mind games).
“All I am concerned about is the game, what we have to do to beat the opponents.”