LONDON • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his team can put their chastening 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat by Barcelona out of their minds and focus on winning today's crucial Premier League trip to Newcastle.
With the Reds trailing leaders Manchester City by a point heading into the final two league games of the season, the German insisted the mood in the dressing room did not need any lifting as "when you're in the race, you don't get tired".
He said yesterday: "We didn't need to pick players up in Barcelona (on Wednesday) and give them a hug. It's in us.
"If you want to win in football, you have to accept that you can lose. I had more positive thoughts about the game than negative because of what we did on the pitch.
"The boys are completely on fire. When you're in the race, you don't get tired.
"We are ambitious like hell. All we can do is beat Newcastle and that's unbelievably difficult, what other teams do on Monday night (when City play Leicester at home) isn't our problem.
"The performances in recent weeks have been brilliant. Now, we need to carry on like this."
His team are on a seven-match Premier League winning streak, scoring 20 goals and conceding just five. They are unbeaten in 15 matches and beat Newcastle 4-0 at Anfield on Boxing Day.
Klopp said with Naby Keita ruled out for the season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is now back in full training after recently returning from a year-long injury absence, was in line for at least a place on the bench at St James' Park.
Guinea midfielder Keita suffered a ruptured tendon in his abductor against Barcelona, ruling him out for two months, a situation Klopp rued as "bad news for us".
However, Oxlade-Chamberlain has similar qualities, with his ability to make penetrating runs from deep. While Klopp refused to be drawn on whether the "brilliant" England midfielder was set to start his first game of the term, he confirmed he would be part of the travelling squad.
Asked about the possibility of a title play-off game, which would only occur if Liverpool and City ended the season level on points, goal difference and goals scored, Klopp admitted the scenario, while somewhat far-fetched, would "fit with the season, a big showdown at high noon somewhere".
He added: "Wow, I didn't think about that, to be honest. It would be cool but I don't think it's too likely."
For now, Klopp is not concerning himself with hypothetical situations as Newcastle are "pretty uncomfortable to play".
FIRED UP
The boys are completely on fire. When you're in the race, you don't get tired. We are ambitious like hell.
All we can do is beat Newcastle and that's unbelievably difficult...
JURGEN KLOPP, Liverpool manager.
And Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is not about to do his former side any favours despite "his relationship with Liverpool".
He is, however, winless in five previous league games against Liverpool (three draws, two losses).
The Spaniard, who retains the affection of most fans in the red half of Merseyside after leading them to their fifth European Cup in 2005, said he was "very clear about being professional and doing our job".
He added: "The fans know that you have to do what you have to do. I have friends at Liverpool, but also at City. We have 52,000 fans and we want to do it (secure the win).
"Everything about Liverpool now is that they are doing great. They are favourites but, if we do everything right, we have a chance."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
NEWCASTLE V LIVERPOOL
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227,mtomorrow, 2.45am
SEEÂ :Â Klopp's Reds will not blink under pressure
Football: Solskjaer wants more than caretaker role after 100
LONDON • Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has accepted it will be hard to deny Eden Hazard a move to Real Madrid this summer, even if a reported £100 million (S$176.7 million) move is "too cheap
Hard to keep Hazard: Sarri - theworldnews.net
Boss Alan Curbishley demands a strong finish from West Ham. Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in secret friendly before Liverpool's Champions League final victory over Tottenham
Erik Lamela demands strong finish from Spurs to secure
The long trophy streak has, at long last, been broken. After hoovering up all 11 trophies on offer in the previous three seasons, Albirex Niigata finally tasted defeat when Home United triumphed 5
Home United snap Albirex Niigata's title-winning streak
sportslifetale.com/soccer/home-united-snap-albirex-niigatas-title-winning-streak/
The long trophy streak has, at long last, been broken. After hoovering up all 11 trophies on offer in the previous three seasons, Albirex Niigata finally tasted defeat when Home United triumphed 5-4 on penalties to lift the Community Shield last night as the new Singapore Premier League (SPL) season kicked off.
Home United snap Albirex Niigata's title-winning streak
SINGAPORE - Most of his National Football Academy Under-17 team-mates were promoted to form the first batch of Young Lions in 2003, but Baihakki Khaizan was left out because he had not played much
Thank you, Baihakki! - Football Association of Singapore
Football: Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again, Neymar to get treatment in Brazil "He's going to become one of the best players in the history of football and I'm trying to
Di Maria brace seals 3-1 win for PSG over Marseille
'No issue' with faith in youth, Football News & Top Stories
DUBLIN, June 10 (Reuters) - Ireland had an own goal by Joseph Chipolina and an injury-time header by substitute Robbie Brady to thank for a 2-0 win over Gibraltar in their Euro 2020 Group D
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 16, 2019, with the headline 'Griezmann calls time on Atletico stay as move to Barcelona looms'. Print Edition
Griezmann calls time on Atletico stay as move to Barcelona looms
7 Urgent Issues to Challenge in Your Youth Group! 40 thoughts on " 7 Urgent Issues to That's the kind of faith that will survive the youth's transition
MADRID (Reuters) - Holders Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who overturned a first
Real Madrid knocked out of Champions League by brilliant Ajax
Eleven Sports hit by poor take-up rate in UK, Football News
Mauricio Pochettino will have been glad of the three weeks between Tottenham's last league game and the Champions League final, but it leaves him with some big decisions to make for the big game.
Tottenham's Pochettino comes away empty handed again | ABS
0 comments:
Post a Comment