Press conferenceKlopp on Wembley target, Forest cup tie and Elliott game time
Jürgen Klopp explained Liverpool's desire to secure a second trip to Wembley of the season as they switch to Emirates FA Cup action this weekend.
The Reds travel to Championship side Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the competition’s quarter-finals, aiming to follow up their Carabao Cup triumph with a return to the national stadium in the last four.
“Very much, absolutely,” said Klopp when asked about the squad’s hunger to get back to Wembley by overcoming Forest in the 6pm GMT kick-off.
“It was a while ago that we played a final at Wembley – and when we were there, I said it after the game, because of the whole set-up, because of the atmosphere and everything the people created, it was no different to the Champions League final.
“It’s a big final, we know that – actually, we always wanted to go there, we just never made it. It’s a fantastic opportunity, that’s absolutely true – the only problem we have is Nottingham Forest and another team we could theoretically face in the semi-final who want to do the same.
“It is nice to play the semi-final at Wembley, absolutely nice, but actually the real deal is then a few weeks later. Of course, we smelled it and we want to have it again.”
Read a summary of the rest of Klopp’s press conference, during which he also revealed a hamstring injury for Trent Alexander-Arnold and that Alisson Becker will start against Forest, below…
On how significant the period of play at Arsenal between Alisson’s save and Diogo Jota’s opening goal could be in the title race…
No idea, to be honest. Significant moments you usually really see only after the season when you look back. But it’s like this: a few years ago the significant moments were when City got the ball off the line, I think it was [John] Stones, it was a very significant moment. Or [City] at Burnley the ball was in for the same margin, that was a significant moment. In this moment you knew they were important or they were big but had no idea how significant they will be. So, I don’t know, but Ali’s save was for sure a big moment when the game could have gone the other way, that’s clear. But apart from that, we had the similar situation with the Sadio goal which was disallowed already maybe five minutes before. So obviously we were much better in our positioning, in our movements than in the first half and that was significant as well. That’s why we had the situations then for Sadio’s, which was offside slightly but clear, and then Diogo’s goal. So that’s very important. I have no idea how significant it was but it was important.
Inside Arsenal: Brilliant away-end scenes
On whether a change in competition this weekend and then an international break is helpful in terms of ‘getting away from the title race’…
Things you cannot change, I don’t think it makes too much sense to really think about it. That’s why we don’t do it. I would prefer to have the boys together for two weeks, I can tell you, that would be much better but they have obviously a lot of important games to play; two especially, with Sadio and Mo. Let’s just hope and pray that they come back healthy. But rhythm break or not, that happens constantly. We have the third or fourth international break now this season – normal, that’s all fine. But before we have an international break we have an incredibly important game against Nottingham, my first time there. I know Nottingham only from when I was a kid with Robin Hood, we thought [about] how it would look there. Probably no time for sightseeing but still looking forward to it.
On Andy Robertson’s assist for Roberto Firmino’s goal at Arsenal...
It’s the full package of Robbo. Not only as a player, but as a person as well. He really desperately wants to deliver and work for the team. The second goal was one of my favourite goals for a long, long time, to be honest. First we win the ball back and then, second, Robbo is waiting with his cross until he saw Bobby is now ready for it. Even when Trent set up a lot of goals, there is still space for improvement in the decisive moments. That was an incredible pass in the end. Of course, Bobby had to do a lot to get it past Ramsdale but the cross or pass was outstanding. Yes, he played a really good game and, thank God, it’s not the first one and I hope it’s not the last one.
On Harvey Elliott’s recent game time...
Managing [the injury] not really, to be honest. It is the competition for the places and stuff like this. He was really long out, came back immediately and looked like, ‘Wow, he is back’ and then everything settles slightly and that’s how it is. It is a completely normal situation, all fine, training well and, yes, nothing else to say actually, all fine.