'We have been warned' - Five key Klopp press conference points
Sadio Mane, the threat of Brighton and Liverpool’s defensive form were among the subjects Jürgen Klopp tackled from journalists during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
The boss addressed the media ahead of the visit of Chris Hughton’s Seagulls, who beat Manchester United 3-2 last time out.
As well as offering an update on Dejan Lovren, discussing whether he’ll name the same line-up for a third game straight and heaping praise upon the evergreen James Milner, Klopp also answered a variety of other questions from the media gathered inside Melwood’s press room.
Here are five key points from the manager’s briefing…
A coach’s dream…
One man commanding a lot of column inches at the moment is Sadio Mane following his exceptional start to Liverpool’s 2018-19 season, in which he has struck three times in just two matches so far.
It was no surprise, therefore, journalists assembled at the press conference were eager to quiz the Reds boss on the form of his No.10 – and he in turn was happy to speak effusively.
“It’s his third season here and he has constantly improved. We knew that we would get a good player when we signed him from Southampton. Did we exactly know how good? I wouldn’t say so. Always you sign a player and you hope he can do a few more steps and he’s done that. We can still improve and so can Sadio, but his performance level and consistency is quite impressive. He is an absolute dream for each coach.”
‘We have been warned…’
Brighton will make the journey up to L4 in good spirits after a 3-2 victory over Manchester United last weekend.
It’s a game Liverpool have used as part of their pre-match analysis - and while it’s provided a clear warning to the Reds about the threat the Seagulls can pose, Klopp was already a long-time admirer of the work Chris Hughton has done on the south coast.
“They are just very good team and I really respect a lot what Chris is doing there. It’s not only the Man United game, but even in that game – and we’ve used it for our analysis – it was impressive, really good. I have a lot of respect for it and we are warned. We have to be awake and we have to be 100 per cent spot on. We have to really be ready for work. Our crowd will hopefully be on their toes to create a good atmosphere. We will try our best to do that with the football we play and we’ll have to deliver a proper fight.”
‘I’m not excited, I expect this from us...’
Liverpool have played two, won two, scored six and conceded none in the Premier League so far in 2018-19.
Reason enough for Klopp to be excited by his team? Not so, he says.
Why? Because he expects this from his side.
“I’m not excited about it. I really think we have to expect things like this from us. I know people expect it on the one side, but on the other we have to expect it [too]. Anything can happen in a football game, but we need to expect from ourselves that we really perform at least the level we showed so far – but I’ve said it a few times already, if that would be the best football we can play it would be really poor because we have to develop, have to improve and I am pretty sure we can.”
A team effort…
The likes of Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have won plenty of plaudits for their roles in ensuring Liverpool have kept consecutive shut-outs so far this term – but Klopp explained to the gathered press pack why he felt the praise deserves to be shared around a little more evenly.
“It’s always like this! You are all the men and women who tell me when we concede goals about our defence and then you talk a lot about the centre-halves and stuff like that, about how they are responsible. Or the goalkeeper or whatever. But defending is always a team thing – it was forever like this and will always be like that.”
'Not just a goalkeeper...'
On the subject of Alisson, Monday’s victory at Selhurst Park further showcased the Brazilian’s range of passing out of defence, which provided the springboard for some of Liverpool’s attacks.
It’s a talent that can give the Reds ‘a few more opportunities’, Klopp feels…
“He’s a good player. A very good player. And really not only a goalkeeper, a player as well. That’s quite cool and gives us a few more opportunities. I like that and hopefully it stays like that. It looks all good. I’m very happy so far and hopefully it stays like this.”