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Tag: Jurgen Klopp

  • City are still the best team in the world – Klopp

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Manchester City are “still the best team in the world”, despite his side being top of the Premier League and seven points ahead of the champions.

    Klopp’s side face City at Etihad Stadium on Thursday at 20:00 GMT.

    City have lost two of their past three league games and are third, a point behind second-placed Tottenham.

    But Klopp said facing City is “one of the most difficult games you can play in the modern football world”.

    “We have to be prepared as good as possible, we have to be brave, we have to be full of desire, angry, like in all the other games,” said Klopp.

    “But with the knowledge the opponent is, for me, still the best team in the world. Only the points changed, not the preparation for the game.”

    City, who won the league last season with a record 100 points, have not won in four games against Liverpool and drew 0-0 when the teams met at Anfield in October.

    Liverpool, who are chasing their first league title since 1989-90, are the only unbeaten side in the league this season.

    The Anfield club’s manager is adamant Guardiola’s side remain a huge threat to Liverpool’s hopes of ending their title drought.

    “If we were 10 points behind would I say we can’t catch them? Of course not,” said Klopp.

    “It’s 3 January. A very important game – a kind of six-point game. It’s a motivation for them 100%, and we need to be ready.”

  • EPL: Nobody should feel safe in title race – Klopp

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says “nobody should feel safe” in the Premier League title race and insists Chelsea and Arsenal remain in the hunt.

    Klopp’s side will reach the halfway point of the season on 26 December at the top of the table after establishing a four-point lead.

    Chelsea and Arsenal, who are fourth and fifth respectively, are 11 points behind the Reds with 20 games to play.

    “No-one should feel out of the race,” said Klopp.

    In eight of the past 10 seasons, the leaders on Christmas Day have gone on to win the Premier League.

    The two exceptions were in 2008-09 and 2013-14 – and on both occasions it was Liverpool who slipped from top spot to finish the season in second.

    Klopp, whose side are unbeaten in the league and host Newcastle United on Wednesday (15:00 GMT kick-off), added: “No decision is made, why should it be?”

    The German’s comments came after Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said Liverpool and Manchester City are “clear favourites” for the title after his side thrashed Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday to narrow the gap to second-placed City to two points.

    “I saw the game against Everton – who played absolutely more than OK – and then they [Spurs] hit pretty much everything and it was really impressive how Tottenham did,” said Klopp.

    “The same will happen to Arsenal and Chelsea.

    “For me, they [Tottenham] were never out so why should people be surprised they are now in?

    “A lot of teams are in whatever you call the title race, and that is how it should be.”

  • Mane’s new Liverpool contract is a statement – Klopp

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said Saido Mane’s new deal to remain at Anfield is a statement of the club’s progress.

    The 26-year-old Senegal international, who signed from Southampton in 2016, agreed terms on a new contract which is thought to run until 2023 on Thursday.

    Klopp, in charge at Anfield since October 2015, said players have had to leave the Premier League side “to make the next step” in the past.

    According to the manager, he said, “It shows a bit of change in the last few years,”

    “To extend a contract is more than a signing, it is a statement.”

    In 2014, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez left Liverpool to join Spanish giants Barcelona, while Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho made the same move in January 2018.

    Suarez has won three La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys and the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp, while Coutinho was also a member of the 2017-18 league-winning squad.

    The Reds finished eighth in the Premier League – 21 points behind champions Leicester – in the season during which Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield. They have finished fourth in his two full campaigns in charge since, 17 and 25 points adrift of title-winners Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.

    However, they are one of the title favourites this term and are second in the table, two points behind Manchester City.

    They also reached last season’s Champions League final but were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid.

  • Improved Liverpool have more to offer – Klopp

    Liverpool have made their joint-best start to a Premier League campaign since it was launched in 1992, but manager Juergen Klopp sees no reason why they cannot improve further heading into the packed festive fixture schedule.

    The unbeaten Merseyside club are second after 12 matches on 30 points, two behind defending champions Manchester City.

    Klopp, however, has demanded more from his players as they look to deliver a first piece of silverware at Anfield since the League Cup triumph in 2012.

    “We can improve… we have to and we will “But between our best football and now, we have to win football games.

    “That’s how it is and that’s what we’ve done already,” the German said at a gala dinner in support of the LFC Foundation.

    At this stage last year, Liverpool had already lost two league games and were fifth in the standings, but a string of assured defensive displays have ensured they are one of three clubs still unbeaten along with Manchester City and Chelsea.

    “So many things are better than last year: defending is better, set-pieces are better; we are much more mature in games, game management

    is better. So many things are better.
    “There’s absolutely no reason for criticising the boys, they do a really good job,” the manager added.

    Liverpool have struggled to rediscover their spark in Europe, however, with away defeats against Red Star Belgrade and Napoli in the group stage leaving their qualification hopes in the balance.

    “There were two days we were really not good, that’s true.

    “But a very intense period is coming up now. There has been a lot of improvement so far and there is still space for further improvement,” Klopp said.

    Liverpool travel to Watford in the league on Saturday before visiting Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.

    Liverpool Football Club is a professional football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.

    The club has won five European Cups, more than any other English club, three UEFA Cups, three Super Cups, 18 League titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, and 15 FA Community Shields.

    NAN

  • Clubs breaching financial fair play should suffer – Klopp

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged UEFA to take action against any clubs found to be in breach of financial fair play (FFP).

    Manchester City have come under scrutiny in recent weeks after allegations were published in Der Spiegel claiming they had struck a secret deal with UEFA in 2014 to avoid a potential Champions League ban for breaching FFP regulations.

    Der Spiegel also claimed City owner Sheikh Mansour “supplemented” the club’s sponsorship deals in order to comply with UEFA’s FFP regulations.

    City labelled the allegations as an “organised and clear” attempt to damage their reputation.

    Paris Saint-Germain, who are in Liverpool’s group in the Champions League, were also accused by Der Spiegel of artificially inflating sponsorship revenues to comply with FFP.

    Klopp has yet to read Der Spiegel’s allegations but believes any club breaking the rules should be punished accordingly.

    “It is really difficult to comment but what I can say in general is that FFP is a really good thing,” Klopp said.

    “But we always thought that, if it is in place, they have to do something with it. I have no clue what happens. I know it is about Paris and Man City. I’m not sure if other clubs are being talked about.

    “I think FFP is a really good thing because it sets the rules. If everything is fine, then everything is fine.

    “If not, then somebody should do something. That’s all I can say but I have no clue about the real story.”

    Sky Sports

  • No margin for error in UEFA Champions League, Klopp admits

    Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says there is no reason to panic after his side lost their second UEFA Champions League game this season on Tuesday.

    The German however conceded that another defeat could derail their chances of moving onto the knockout phase.

    Two first-half goals from Milan Pavkov saw Liverpool lose 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade.

    They are now tied with Napoli at the top of Group C on six points after four games, with matches against the Italian side and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to come.

    “I think it made sense to make a few changes, a few we had to make and a few we wanted to,” said Klopp.

    “I do not say it is serious we lost two times, but of course we have to make sure that it will not happen again, otherwise it will be difficult.

    “Because the next game is already an away game again, and then a tough home game.”

    Liverpool visit French champions PSG on Nov. 28 before hosting Napoli on Dec. 11.

    Reuters/NAN

  • One of my life goals is to make Mourinho smile – Klopp

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has quipped that one of his “life goals is to make Jose Mourinho smile” after the Manchester United manager suggested Liverpool “had to win the Premier League” this season.

    Mourinho claimed the Anfield club are “big candidates” for the title having spent £170m on four players this summer.

    But Klopp has dismissed those comments before Saturday’s meeting between the two sides in Michigan in the International Champions Cup.

    “It’s a free world and I have no problem with Jose,” said the German.

    “We are responsible for our fans, our owners and nobody else. I am not too interested in Man Utd.”

    Klopp’s response follows Mourinho’s suggestion Liverpool will have set a “Premier League record” this season, after spending nearly £250m in the last 12 months.

    That figure includes world-record fees for £66.8m goalkeeper Alisson from Roma and £75m defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January.

    This summer, Guinea midfielder Naby Keita has arrived from RB Leipzig for about £50m, Brazil midfielder Fabinho has joined from Monaco in a deal that could be worth more than £40m, and Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri has come in from Stoke for £13m.

    However the Reds have also raised significant funds, including through the £142m sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January.

    When asked about Liverpool’s spending, Mourinho said: “I don’t see another team getting close to that level of investment – a team that was a finalist in the Champions League, you have to say are a big candidate. You have to win.”

    Asked whether he had to win the Premier League this season, Klopp said: “I don’t think so.

    “Do I get the sack if not? Depends on the football we play.

    “A big part of the job is to play football that our people like. It happened last year and the year before but now we want to make the next step.

    “Our opponents have not slept and they too have brought better players in.”

  • Karius ‘100%’ influenced by concussion in Champions League final – Klopp

    Liverpool keeper Loris Karius was “100%” affected by a concussion in their Champions League final loss to Real Madrid, says manager Jurgen Klopp.

    Errors by Karius, 25, led to the Spanish side’s first and third goals in their 3-1 victory in Kiev in May.

    Karius collided with Sergio Ramos with the score goalless, and five days later was discovered to have “26 of 30 markers for a concussion” in tests.

    “We don’t use it as an excuse, we use it as an explanation,” said Klopp.

    “For me, it is 100% the explanation [for his performance]. He was influenced by that knock – that is 100%.”

    In the days following the final, Karius told fans he was “infinitely sorry” for his performance and he later received death threats, prompting a police investigation.

    A week later doctors confirmed he had suffered a concussion during the game but Klopp has not spoken about the injury until now.

    “If you ask Loris, he says he didn’t think about it and didn’t use it for a second as an excuse,” added Klopp, whose will take a squad including Karius to face Chester City in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

    “From this point of view, from my side everything is fine. We don’t think about that any more and we start completely new.”

    BBC

  • Mohamed Salah signs new deal with Liverpool

    Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new five-year contract with the club.

    The 26-year-old Egypt international joined the Reds for £34m from Roma last summer and has scored 44 goals in 52 appearances for the club.

    His new deal, which runs until 2023, does not contain a release clause.

    “It demonstrates two things very clearly – his belief in Liverpool and our belief in him,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

    Salah was the top scorer in the Premier League last season, netting 32 goals – the most by a player in a 38-game campaign – to win the Golden Boot.

    His performances also helped him win last season’s Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

    “This news can be seen for what it is; rewarding a person who performed and contributed greatly for the team and the club last season,” said Klopp.

    “We want world-class talent to see they have a home at Anfield where they can fulfil all their professional dreams and ambitions – we are working hard together to achieve this.

    “When someone like Mo Salah commits and says this place is my home now, it speaks very loudly I think.

    “Equally, our commitment to him says we see his value and want him to grow even more and get even better within our environment.”

    Liverpool finished fourth in the league last season and lost the Champions League final 3-1 to Real Madrid.

    Salah had to come off after half an hour against the Spanish giants in Kiev after suffering a shoulder injury.

    The problem put his participation at the 2018 World Cup in doubt and he missed Egypt’s opening game – a 1-0 defeat by Uruguay – before starting against Russia and Saudi Arabia.

    Salah scored in both of those games but could not stop his country from losing and going out in the group stages.

    Liverpool’s players returned to pre-season training on Monday but Salah, other players involved at the World Cup and Netherlands duo Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum were not among them.

    However, German keeper Loris Karius, who made two mistakes in the Champions League final and was later said to have been suffering from concussion after a collision earlier in the game, was one of the 26 back at Melwood.

    New signings Naby Keita and Fabinho were also at the club.

    BBC

  • UCL: Jurgen Klopp sends warning to Real Madrid, says Liverpool will be ‘on fire’

    UCL: Jurgen Klopp sends warning to Real Madrid, says Liverpool will be ‘on fire’

    Jurgen Klopp has demanded his Liverpool players to be on-top of their game ahead of Champions League final tie against 12-time winners Real Madrid.

    The two sides will meet in Kiev, Ukraine on May 26 after Liverpool survived a “crazy” semi-final against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday to win 7-6 on aggregate.

    Real Madrid are bidding for their third-straight Champions League trophy, while Liverpool manager Klopp will be in search of his first silverware at the club following defeats in two finals since he joined in 2015.

    “We were in a League Cup final and didn’t win it,” Klopp said. “People don’t tell me in the street since then: ‘Thank you for bringing us to the final.’ We were in the Europa League final too. Nobody tells me, thank you. I see no trophies after these games.

    “They don’t hang silver medals at Melwood. That’s a pity, but that’s the game. There’s still a job to do.

    “Going to a final is really nice but winning is even nicer. We will be ready but it is Real Madrid. You cannot be more experienced in this competition than Real Madrid. I think 80 per cent of their team played all these finals. They are four times in the last five years and still together.

    “They are experienced, we are not, but we will be really on fire.”

    Liverpool have received 16,626 tickets for the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium – which holds a capacity of 63,000.