Liverpool face a ‘super important week’ with home games against Wolves and Man Utd, manager Jurgen Klopp says; the German thinks his team can be on the way to success by May; Klopp is bolstered by near-perfect health
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side can put their shaky form behind them and find themselves on the path to success: “If there’s one club that can do it, I really believe it’s us .”
A run of two wins in just seven games in all competitions has raised more doubts about Klopp’s side this season – but they come into Wednesday night’s Premier League game against Wolves in seventh place, nine points behind Tottenham , fourth, with two games in hand.
However, Liverpool have struggled for consistency all season, but Klopp has been defiant that the winning streak they have so far slipped away could still happen.
Asked if there is any urgency to continue this run with 15 games left in the league season, Klopp replied: “It’s 45 points. It would be a good time, a very good time! is what we want to do.
“We have to force it, we have to play and enjoy what we are doing. I really think we are ready. If any club can do it, I think it’s us. Honestly.
“We will usually respond. But now we have to make sure we get everything we can out of this season. “I don’t know what it will be but the obvious points are not too far from us. We will see which one we can get. But there is no alternative to results: we need results and performances. “
Klopp in a ‘super important week
Liverpool host Wolves in one of those games against Tottenham at Anfield on Wednesday night before hosting rivals Manchester United in this weekend’s Super Sunday clash.
“It’s a super important week,” Klopp said. “We mustn’t make it smaller than it is. We have two home games, but thank God only one tomorrow. Not two in one.”
“I would like to give a boost to the season this week. And to get results you need good performances. Nothing I’ve seen since the last match in training has given the impression that we didn’t have a chance [to do that]. The few sessions we had looked good.
“I know we all understand, including the players. We have to try well in this match tomorrow. It’s against a team we’ve played against more than any other team this season.” We know a lot about each other. We know it won’t be easy, but this isn’t the most surprising piece of information. We have to make sure we are ready and I know Anfield will be, so we have to do our part. “
Liverpool are also boosted by a near-perfect health bill. The return of Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota from injury means only Luis Diaz and Joe Gomez Thiago Alcantara are sidelined on the couch.
Klopp will welcome Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate to his squad on Wednesday evening, while Diaz will take part in individual training. “The hardest part is when you have too many injuries and other players have to play too often and get injured when other players come back,” Klopp said.
“We didn’t have the full squad on the pitch yet, but last week it was without Thiago and Lucho [Luis Diaz], so we had 26 players on the pitch with no goalkeepers.
“The squad isn’t too small, but we haven’t put them together with six, seven, eight players out. Now we don’t have that number and it will be decisive.”
Redknapp: Liverpool need to beat Wolves and Man Utd
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Liverpool’s next two games, both at home to Wolves on Wednesday and rivals Manchester United four days later, are crucial to their first four hopes.
“Liverpool’s season is almost defined by the next two games,” he said. “When you identify games as a Liverpool player, they can define a season, especially when you’re in a situation where you’re a bit fragile.
“Everything can change if they win on March 5 (against Man Utd) and in the middle of the week. Suddenly the top 4 becomes a realistic goal that I still believe they can achieve.
“You have to win these next two games at home. You have to find that faith and that confidence at home because with this [Real Madrid] performance, a bit will have been slapped.” But it’s the games that I really believe will make the difference.
“You can’t get into the situation where you played every game last year, you reached the cup final, you reached and suddenly became a bad team. They are damaged, the confidence is low. ” , but I still think they are capable of finishing in the top four with this team.”