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
Manchester United goalkeeper was in sensational form for The Red Devils against Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday. The hosts secured a 1-0 win over The Toffees, hence reviving their top four hopes. But Luis Van Gaal's side risked losing the slim
Manchester :: Football News :: Live Soccer TV
Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 21st Jan, 2019 ) :Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain. on Monday.
Barcelona set to complete shock Boateng loan move - goal.com
Model Marisa Papen Courts Controversy Again With Nude Photo Shoot In Turkey "A lot of people will probably call us insane by doing these kind of 'stunts
Model Marisa Papen Courts Controversy Again With Nude Photo
Wenger hails Leeds' Bielsa for sportsmanship in Villa draw. Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa's sportsmanlike decision to allow Aston Villa to score unopposed in Sunday's 1-1 draw is all
Wenger hails Leeds' Bielsa for sportsmanship in Villa draw
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at Manchester United, Paul Pogba
To own a pet wolf, start by researching your local laws to make sure it's legal to own one where you live. Then, talk to an expert or volunteer at a wolf center before you buy one so that you know what to expect when trying to raise a wolf as a pet.
Wolf Ecology and Behavior - Western Wildlife Outreach
westernwildlife.org/gray-wolf-outreach-project/biology-behavior-4/
Wolf pups are weaned at about 8 weeks of age once they have begun eating semi-solid food, regurgitated by the mother or others members of the pack. As pups begin eating more solids, they are moved to one or more "rendezvous sites," where they spend the remainder of the summer learning proper pack behavior and etiquette.
Wolf - Official Minecraft Wiki
Guardiola dismisses Klopp's claim that Man City have no
Football: Aston Villa return to Premier League with win over
Bayern Munich ace Robert Lewandowski on rejection at 17, dealing with Jurgen Klopp and why Pep Guardiola will star in England. Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski is one of Europe's hottest
Pep Guardiola prepares Man City to play like Barcelona and
Mar 31, 2019 · Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits 'feeling in dressing room like a funeral' after Man Utd's fortuitous win against Watford Save Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Man Utd were lucky to beat Watford Credit: afp
Man United Didn't Deserve To Win against Watford - Thewistle
Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's 'massive' points haul as he urges Reds to 'write our own history' Total of 42 points after 16 league matches is the club's best ever tally at this stage of a top
Jurgen Klopp hails Mohamed Salah after his brilliant solo
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues - Premier
Football: Barca's Dembele back training ahead of Man United clash BARCELONA (AFP) - Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele returned to team training on Thursday (April 4), increasing hopes that he will recover from his hamstring injury in time for next week's Champions League trip to Manchester United.
Dembele back training ahead of Man United clash | Sport24
FA Cup: Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to Shrews in Cup replays - Newcastle United beat Blackburn Rovers 4-2 after extra time while Championship side Stoke City threw away a two-goal lead as they suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat by third-tier Shrewsbury Town in FA Cup third-round replays on Tuesday.
Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to Shrews in Cup
"Get all latest content delivered straight to your inbox." Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:
World Cup » News » Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen