LONDON • Jurgen Klopp has insisted his team are driven in their pursuit of the Premier League title by the pain of last season's Champions League final and not a slip-up against Chelsea five years ago.
Dismissing any link between today's crucial fixture at Anfield and Chelsea's visit at a similar stage of the 2013-14 season, when a 2-0 defeat derailed their title ambitions, the Liverpool manager feels "it is not important to talk about what happened as it is too long ago".
The 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in Kiev last May, however, is still fresh in the memory, with Klopp admitting their determination to make amends has been a factor in their title tilt this term.
Ahead of today's match - his 200th fixture in charge - he said: "We have enough reasons to be positive about ourselves. This season, it was already different when we came back because of the negative things we experienced ourselves in the last game of last season.
"The boys did really good so far and that is why we are still in the fight for the championship. That has nothing to do with other games.
"There will be nervy moments, difficulties in the game, but in this moment, we all looked ready for dealing with it and that is why I am happy with that."
2012
The last time Chelsea lost at Anfield (4-1). It is Liverpool's longest home run without winning against any opponent in the Premier League.
His team's growing "maturity" in the run-in can also be seen in the intensity of Liverpool's recent displays, with Klopp attributing their step-up to his players "using each fibre as it is the last part of the season and in the last 100m, you go with all you have".
The German said: "What I really want to ask for is that all of us are in a real fighting mood, all at Anfield and whoever is in front of the TV, in a proper aggressive, positive mood. Go for whatever we can go for."
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, one of the few survivors from the 2013-14 squad, echoed his boss' assertion that what happened five years ago had little bearing on this campaign, with Klopp's men faring far better in defence compared with Brendan Rodgers' team.
The England midfielder, who missed that game due to suspension, added: "We still had that belief when we were going for the title a few years ago, but the biggest difference is the clean sheets and defensive record. That season, we conceded quite a few goals though we might have been winning games. We weren't as strong as we would have liked to have been."
However, Klopp conceded that Chelsea, who are unbeaten in their last eight visits to Liverpool in all competitions and whose last league defeat on Merseyside dates back to 2012, are "in a good moment".
He added: "From the first second, we have to be a completely different opponent to all the others they have faced in recent weeks."
But, while Maurizio Sarri's players will be hopeful of extending their fine record at Anfield - Liverpool's longest winless run against an opponent - they will be wary of the home team riding the crest of a wave of emotion.
Not only will there be a tribute to the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster, a day before its 30th anniversary, but the crowd will also be paying their respects to former captain Tommy Smith, who died on Friday at the age of 74.
Calling him an "icon", pundit and former teammate Phil Thompson told Sky Sports: "Liverpool owe this guy a debt of gratitude. He drove the team, he was incredible."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
LIVERPOOL V CHELSEA
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 11.30pm
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish was punched by a pitch-invading Birmingham fan in a shocking incident during Sunday's Championship clash, but the midfielder had the last laugh as he scored the
Villa's Grealish has last laugh after Birmingham fan attack
Spanish media call for Valverde axe. Barcelona's Lionel Messi reportedly broke down in tears in the dressing room after his team's 4-0 loss to Liverpool, and 4-3 on aggregate, in the second leg of
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News
Investigators searching for a lost plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala say an underwater search would begin after they found two seat cushions on the French coast that likely
Plane Cushions Found in Search for Missing Soccer Player Sala
Klopp not falling for title talk trap, Football News & Top
Huddersfield reduced the deficit to 2-1 after the restart as midfielder Philip Billing's swerving effort from distance flew past Southampton goalkeeper McCarthy, who appeared to be unsighted by a
Southampton power past struggling Huddersfield Town
Jurgen Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex Description: Jurgen Klopp had lost his two previous Champions League finals, against Bayern Munich as Borussia Dortmund boss in 2013 and last year against Real Madrid, as well as the 2016 Europa League final
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/06/01/klopp-hails-best-night-of-his-life-after-ending-final-hex/
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex AFP June 1, 2019 AFP No Comments Madrid (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp revelled in the biggest night of his managerial career on Saturday after winning Liverpool's sixth Champions League title, ending a run of six straight losses in finals.
Spurs should drop Lloris for prime 4, says Jenas. a must-win match with the membership having taken just one out of 15 factors from their final 5 league video
Ex-Spurs man says Lloris should be dropped now… even for
Qatar thrash UAE amid shoe barrage to reach Asian Cup final getty, Francois Nel Qatar punished unwelcoming hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a politically charged clash marred by disgraceful behaviour from shoe-throwing fans Tuesday to reach their first Asian Cup final.
Football: Qatar thrash UAE amid shoe barrage to reach Asian
Ryan Giggs has hit back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Swede criticised the Class of '92 over their complaints about Manchester United, joking "obviously he knows more about the club than us".
Ryan Giggs hits back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after slamming Man
Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to blame goalkeeper David De Gea after Granit Xhaka's shot beat him during the Red Devils' 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday at the
Rio Back As Technical Director? | "Don't Blame De Gea" | No
LOS ANGELES - The NBA on Saturday fined Rockets guard James Harden $25,000 for public criticism of officials after the Rockets loss to the Lakers on Thursday.. The league did not specify which
Cleveland Cavaliers players allegedly 'confront each other
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen