Jurgen Klopp admits risks of being booted out of the Anfield door if his side fails to clinch three points against champions-elect Chelsea on Tuesday evening. The wave of optimism about the German’s tactics and gusto are fairly fading away, with three consecutive defeats to Swansea City, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, which saw them crashing out of two cup competitions and their hopes of finishing in the top four dangle on a string.
As quoted by The Sun, the former Borussia Dortmund boss confessed:
“I know what will happen if we end up losing a fourth game in a row.
“Am I allowed to go for the best position in the Premier League?
“Or should we just put our heads down and say, ‘OK, sorry, we failed again. Let’s get through the season and next year try again with different players and, if someone asks for it, a new manager’?
“I can’t decide this, but I think we should try everything to make the best of the base that we have created so far.
“A lot of people are saying this could be a difficult moment for Liverpool — and it is difficult, no doubt.
“I can say nothing about Chelsea’s position. We just have to do everything to win three points.”
Klopp’s men have already beaten the Blues at Stamford Bridge earlier this season but the visitors look like a whole new side right now, sitting pretty at the peak of the table with 8 points gap.
After a commendable start to the campaign, their form has dipped severely in January. Without Sadio Mane, who joined Senegal in the African Cup of Nations for close to a month, their free-scoring reputation was almost non-existent. Piling more pressure was a congested run of fixtures which got the German plucking options from the academy depth too soon. The Liverpool boss did reshuffle his attacking cards but nothing turned fruitful.
At the heart of midfield, Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum do not have the knack of placing defence-splitting passes to set the tone for the offensive mates, that makes their movement way predictable. Besides that, a lack of care at the back have led to dismal defensive displays a number of times. Therefore, it’s not all about Mane, the entire unit has looked short of confidence and composure. If they continue to perform like this, a long winter lies ahead.
However, the return of Mane after his country lost to Cameroon in the quarterfinals will be a huge boost for the Merseyside club. In fact, it’s much more exciting news than signing a stopgap in the current window. The 24-year-old’s change of pace, instinctive finishing and ability to stretch defences and create spaces for other runners would be crucial against a well-oiled side like Chelsea.
Klopp added:
“If we close the gap it will obviously make the league a little bit more exciting for a lot of people — but that means nothing to us.
“We just cannot waste any more time or points now.”
Despite two cup exits, it’s not all doom and gloom at Anfield. If Liverpool manages to hobble over the finish line with three points, they can place their focus entirely on cementing a spot for Champions League football next season and perform a radical overhaul in the summer with more options.
Coming on the back of a 4-0 FA Cup fourth round triumph over Brentford and taking on a team with contrasting form, the odds seems to be in the Blues’ favour but a multifaceted match is expected at Anfield.
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