Jurgen Klopp gives rousing speech following Watford loss
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed how he dealt with the aftermath of his side’s shock 3-0 loss away to Watford. The defeat ended the Reds’ 44 game unbeaten streak in the Premier League and helped preserve Arsenal’s record as the only team in modern English football to go invincible.
According to The Athletic (h/t The Express), the Liverpool manager held private conversations with his players in the dressing room after the match. With his team still in with the chance of a treble, the German insists that this was just the kind of awakening the team needed.
Klopp told the players that although they had enjoyed an incredible run, the loss showed that there are still areas where they need to improve. He elucidated the need to understand what went wrong and to rectify the mistakes going forward.
Speaking about the game, Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum accepted that a loss is always hard to take, especially one after such a long time. He too admitted that things just did not go according to plan and that it is now up to the team to learn the lessons so as to do better.
It was Liverpool second loss after the winter break after losing just two games prior to it. The mid-season gap looks to have upset the Reds’ rhythm as they have looked lethargic in the games since.
Warning signs were visible in the games against Norwich City and West Ham United. However, it was against the Hornets that the chickens came home to roost.
Season defining fixtures to come
An Ismaila Sarr double followed by a Troy Deeney strike condemned the Reds to their worst defeat in the league since the 4-1 loss against Tottenham three years ago.
The defeat is likely to prompt Klopp to play a stronger side than usual in the FA Cup to ensure the Reds get back to winning ways as quickly as possible. The Reds need just 12 more points to win the league and face Bournemouth next before trying to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
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Virgil van Dijk, the captain for the night at Watford was gracious in defeat and credited the Hornets for their performance. Liverpool faces Chelsea in the standout tie of the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday.
