Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool’s exit and claims the “small step” after Chelsea
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has made a confession about his future after Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge as Champions League hopes fade.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has commented on his future after a 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which leaves his side eighth in the Premier League at present.
The Reds played out an entertaining but low goalless draw against Chelsea. It was a match that showed a lack of confidence on both sides and in many ways was the epitome of Liverpool’s season: sometimes shaky in defence, sometimes too quick in midfield and unable to create clear-cut chances.
“No, thank God. I wouldn’t be the manager of Liverpool if I had had a few seasons,” he admitted. “We have to go through this. Such is life. You must fight to change your destiny.
“Both teams played in two finals last year, two of the best 0-0 draws I’ve seen. Today they were two teams that lacked confidence, but were really struggling. We are fine with one point, a lot of good stuff. We showed a lot of struggle. We must continue.
“We struggled with the last line at the start but switched three times. The balls behind were difficult, but then we recovered well. We got into the game better.
“The midfield was well matched. We had our chances in attack. It wasn’t spectacular. It was a step. That’s what we have to do – take action. Sometimes smaller steps.
After games against Manchester City and Chelsea, Liverpool now host Arsenal at Anfield on Easter Sunday before traveling to Leeds United the following Monday evening.
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Mohamed Salah fell as Jurgen Klopp made six dramatic Liverpool changes
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were beaten 4-1 by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on Saturday and the German has made a number of changes for Tuesday’s clash with Chelsea.
Mohamed Salah has been dropped for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Chelsea after Jurgen Klopp made six changes from the side which lost 4-1 to Manchester City.
Full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, who struggled last time out at the Etihad, have been benched for the Reds.
In midfield, summer signings Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott have lost their places in the starting XI, while six fringe players join the first team for the trip to Stamford Bridge. Virgil van Dijk is also absent from the squad beaten by Man City but the Dutchman is ill and was unable to train on Monday. Joel Matip replaces Van Dijk on the squad sheet and Konstantinos Tsimikas replaces Robertson on the left wing.
Joe Gomez, meanwhile, takes over from Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Curtis Jones replaces Elliott and Roberto Firmino replaces Gakpo.
Klopp’s most interesting change is his decision to drop Salah, who scored Liverpool’s consolation goal against Man City, for Darwin Nunez.
Klopp’s dramatic decision to make six changes will largely hinge on protecting his players from injury in the current congestion.
But the German certainly seems to be expressing his feelings clearly after Saturday’s defeat to City, which showed a class divide between the sides. Van Dijk said after the match: “We will meet together but the change of course is quite quick with Chelsea on Tuesday, so it’s a great day.
“If you lose like we lost, there will definitely be loud talk. That’s quite normal. We’re grown men.”
He added: “It was definitely a difficult afternoon. We are very frustrated. This is the feeling. We try, we try, but this was frustrating. I think the first half was pretty even, obviously a great goal from Mo (Salah) but they also scored a nice goal.
“In the second half (bottom) the 2-1 was a hard blow”.
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