‘We destroy with our behinds what we build with our hands’: Jurgen Klopp uses a German phrase to sum up his team’s poor performance against Brighton, as he admits he is not spending enough time before the confrontation decisive with Man City
- Liverpool are currently in a series of two league games at home with no win or goal
- The Reds face league leader Manchester City in Anfield on Sunday afternoon
- Jurgen Klopp feels that his players were too slow in the Burnley and Brighton games
- The German coach says his team will try to improve the pace
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp admits that he is being a tough master in preparing his players after successive defeats at home without scoring.
The Liverpool coach felt his players were too weak and slow to make the final pass during Wednesday’s defeat against Brighton and used a picturesque German proverb to demand what he is looking for
‘It was about the pace of the ball against Brighton. They only managed to close the gaps because our passes were not strong enough, ‘said Klopp before Sunday’s big game against Manchester City.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp (left) is aware that he is a tough taskmaster with his Liverpool stars
The out-of-shape Reds are currently in a series of two consecutive home league defeats with goals
‘The boys have known me for a long time that if you pass the ball nine million times exactly the right way and three or four times not, we talk only about those three or four times.
‘It’s not very cool, but it is important. Let’s work at the pace. Just Bam!
‘If the situation is this, we have the ball, without pressure on us and two or three runners (and we don’t capitalize), so we destroy with our backs what we build with our hands. It is a translation of a German phrase and that was the situation against Brighton. ‘
Klopp is trying to prepare his players for Sunday’s difficult task with leader Manchester City
The champions are behind City by seven points, but their rivalry has seen a similar gap erased before, when Liverpool led by seven, going to a 2-1 loss at The Etihad in 2019. Guardiola’s men, who were saved through a John Stones pass on the goal line, he went on to become champion.
“I had completely forgotten. Yes, now I’m on fire, let’s try, ‘said Klopp.
‘This is a completely different situation now, but of course it shows that things can change quickly.
“There are many things to consider for a game like this, many things to think about. In the end, we have to play high-level football and defend everything.
Klopp’s Liverpool are seven points behind Pep Guardiola’s City (right), who have one game less
‘You have to make some special things happen and we will try. You don’t score easy goals against City, you don’t even have easy chances, but that’s a good thing in football. Even when you lose the last game, everything is possible for the next one. That’s what we’re going to try to use and show. ‘
Liverpool’s top three defenders are out this season, but Klopp is excited by goalkeeper Alisson and striker Sadio Mane, who may return.
The new signing, Ozan Kobak, received international authorization to play after his transfer from Schalke on the deadline.
Klopp hopes the underperforming performance against Brighton was a hangover from the tough games in London against West Ham and Spurs. ‘I saw those side line matches and we paid the bill. It happens. Let’s go to the next one. ‘