LONDON • With seven Premier League matches left for Liverpool in the season, one would have expected Jurgen Klopp to deliver grand, rousing speeches when his players returned from the international break.
There were none. Instead, it was right down to business at Melwood immediately and the manager even oversaw a double training session on Tuesday.
The message was clear: the German merely emphasised to everyone that they will all be needed over the coming weeks in the Premier League title race and the Champions League.
The true test for Klopp and Liverpool's strength in depth has now come and the arrival of Tottenham today at Anfield presents the first of seven domestic examinations, plus up to five more in Europe. These fixtures demand that the pace has to be picked up immediately.
"The good thing is, do I have to talk about motivation with the boys? Of course not. They are all on fire," Klopp said at a press conference on Friday.
"We had a big training squad. There were 21 players and only two kids involved and usually we have five or six kids involved.
1
Liverpool have lost only one of their past 13 league and Cup games against Tottenham, winning eight of those matches.
"It means they are coming back fighting for minutes on the pitch. It's all there what you need but, on the other hand, you need to be stable and clear and not going nuts, not trying too hard.
"When we have the ball, we try to create a chance, we try to score. When we don't have the ball, then we defend with all we have. The things you did that brought you here, you have to do it again."
History suggests that he will need everybody indeed.
It was on March 31 last year when Liverpool lost Adam Lallana until the final fortnight of the campaign with a hamstring problem. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then suffered a knee injury from which he continues to recover from and Joe Gomez required ankle surgery that would end his season prematurely.
The strain on resources, coupled with the prioritising of Europe where they went all the way to the Champions League final only to lose to Real Madrid, meant that Dominic Solanke played 219 minutes in the closing weeks, Danny Ings (243), Ragnar Klavan (294), Nathaniel Clyne (184), Alberto Moreno (186) and Ben Woodburn (six).
Liverpool's league record over the final seven games last term read: won three, drawn three, lost one and they clinched a top-four spot only on the final weekend.
It is revealing that Solanke, Ings, Klavan and Clyne have all left, Woodburn would still be on loan at Sheffield United if that switch had worked out and Moreno will depart at the end of the campaign.
In their place, Liverpool have Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi as back-up strikers, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and, soon, Gomez all vying to partner Virgil van Dijk, while Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri shadow a plethora of midfielders.
While Manchester City boast greater resources, the difference in squad strength between the top two does not feel like a chasm.
Significantly, City's 2-0 win at Fulham yesterday began a crazy sequence of nine matches up to April 28 for Pep Guardiola's side.
Liverpool play seven times and will hope that if their rivals stumble, it is in the league.
Regardless of what happens, van Dijk has told his teammates to have "no regrets" as they try to deliver a first league title in 29 years.
"The most important thing is to enjoy it. You hope to be in this kind of position - challenging for the Premier League title, being as far as we are in the Champions League now," the Dutchman said.
"I think the ultimate thing would be winning something with Liverpool and we still have a chance to win it. So let's just go for it."
THE TIMES, LONDON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
LIVERPOOL V TOTTENHAM
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 11.30pm
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola wants the pain of Manchester City's gut-wrenching Champions League elimination at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur to inspire a charge for an
Guardiola hopes Champions League pain spurs on Manchester
Jan 06, 2016 · Feelings of insecurity can motivate someone to play hard to get. In a marriage, the results can backfire. However, experts say, exploring why you have these desires can help you identify where a
The Scientific Reason Playing Hard To Get - Elite Daily
Captain Hugo Lloris admitted he was worried about Tottenham's domestic form — and it had to change fast — after his Champions League quarter-finalists surrendered to strugglers Southampton. And with no "joker" left to play in the race for the top four, last summer's World Cup winning skipper challenged his two-faced team to win every
Fred warns Manchester United team-mates ahead of Spurs clash
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw Germany's new-look team made a promising return to the international stage with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw
Part 3 of Inside The Rhapsody - A mini documentary about the making of Bohemian Rhapsody - Taken from the 'Greatest Video Hits 1' bonus DVD of 2002. 1 of 3 mini documentaries from this disc. http
Queen Is Making A Killing In Music Sales Thanks To 'Bohemian
260 Director Fas jobs available on Indeed.com. Apply to Deputy Director, Assistant Director, Director of Program Management and more! Director Fas Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com Skip to Job Postings , Search Close
Sergio Aguero's 20th Premier League goal of the season left Manchester City just two wins from the title after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday. Aguero, who has now
Aguero goal and another clean sheet inches City closer to the
LONDON • Tottenham's first Premier League match in their new 62,000-capacity stadium will be against Crystal Palace on April 3. In an official statement on Sunday, Spurs also confirmed that the new stadium will host its first European game when Manchester City visit north London six days later for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
TOTTENHAM AND PALACE FANS REACT: Spurs to Host The Eagles in
Copa del Rey: Ramos double puts Real Madrid within sight of
Thank you for visiting the Axe website. If you are reporting a problem with one of our products, please be sure to include your address and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day so we can contact you for further information. Unilever does not collect personal information from children under 13.
AXE Media TV Review - digitalcashkings.com
He envisions a pacy and attacking brand of football for the Lions, and new national coach Tatsuma Yoshida was quick to emphasise this philosophy to his players during his first training session
Solomon Islands News, Scores, Schedule, Stats, Roster
Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid on Saturday. With the win they clinched fourth place in La Liga at the expense of Getafe who drew 2-2 at home to Villarreal. Marcelino's side had to win to guarantee finishing fourth and after
Football: Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen