Klopp: Burnley's desire for points will be just as great as our own

The Reds are aiming to return to winning ways following the draw against Everton at Goodison Park last weekend, but the manager expects the Clarets to be just as hungry for victory as his own team.

He wrote in his column for the official matchday programme: “We arrive into this game on the back of a hard-fought draw at our local rivals Everton. I felt on the day, and the analysis after confirmed, that in terms of chances we created nearly all the ones of significance during the game. We dominated and played some really good football, so I am really pleased with the players for the determination and the quality they showed.

“During seasons of success there will always be matches where the performance deserves more than the final result and I think Sunday at Goodison was one of those. The players gave everything and were mature in how they managed the game.

“It is clear that each and every game between now and the campaign ending will be exactly the same, as I think each team in this division is fighting for something.

“Take today as the perfect example. Burnley are in a healthy position in the table but still require points and therefore will have as much desire as we do for a result.

“In football you never play in isolation – the opponent is just as motivated. I don’t think you achieve just because you want something more; to assume you want something more than the person you compete against is as complacent as it is presumptuous.

“Burnley are a side that reflects their manager. They are fierce and committed, confident in themselves – they are astute. They will come to make life as uncomfortable as possible for us, but they come with the intention to win and we know this. We know to win the game we must work harder than our opponent – this is a given for us.

“Burnley have big motivation, but as always our motivation is at its maximum. We need to marry our quality with our determination – this is the critical equation. I know we want to achieve for our club and our supporters with everything we have, but to do that we need more than just raw desire. We need to be ready and we need to be smart. We need to make sure we react in the right way to situations, be it during matches or more generally.

“I see in our team that they relish this run-in and they relish everything that comes with it. They look at our situation and see opportunity. The attitude is: this is cool, let’s attack it.

“To achieve in the Premier League is so hard – so, so hard – but it’s that intensity that makes it so rewarding. We enjoy being in this battle because it matters. It sets the pulses racing because it matters.”

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