Football

Klopp insists Liverpool slump is no ‘catastrophe’, says he is calm

Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates in front of the supporters after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 6, 2020. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called for some perspective after a four-game winless run that dropped English champions to fourth in the Premier League.

The Reds trail surprise leaders Leicester by four points, but play their game in hand when Burnley visit Anfield on Thursday.

Concern over Liverpool’s ability to retain the title has grown in recent weeks after a run of three league games without a goal for the first time since 2005.

“The perception from outside goes really quick. People get very unhappy with the performances when the result is not there,” said Klopp, who again defended his side’s display in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Manchester United.

Manchester City and United both play later on Wednesday and can extend their advantages over Liverpool and take top spot.

But with over half the season to play, Klopp is expecting plenty more twists and turns before a decisive move is made in the title race. 

“Pretty much all the teams had a kind of a dip here and there and some sorted it already, some are on the way to sorting it. That’s the situation. I understand 100 per cent the need to talk all the time about it but we cannot change it just in a minute,” he added.

“Someone has to be calm in this situation, it is not a catastrophe. It is not perfect but I saw a lot of good signs again in the Man United game and if we would have won that game everybody would have seen them. Because we didn’t win, then nobody was interested in it.”

Klopp’s centre-back options could be bolstered by the return of Joel Matip for the Burnley clash.

However, the Liverpool boss confirmed Diogo Jota is still “weeks away” from returning to offer some much-needed back up to Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in attack.

© Agence France-Presse via SPNAfrica News

www.spnafricanews.com

Tom Kirkwood

Recent Posts

World trail athletes aiming for the Top of the Table in RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town

The eyes of the trail world will be focused on the southern tip of Africa…

4 hours ago

Marathon magic in New York and Soweto

Competitive racing was the order of the day at the TCS New York City Marathon…

2 weeks ago

Mainz 05 Coaches Inspire Youth at Totalsport Safe-Hub in Johannesburg’s Alexandra

A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 has visited the Totalsport Safe-Hub in…

3 weeks ago

Spotlight on African basketball talent and milestones as NBA’s 2024/25 season takes off

An NBA season packed with African talent and colourful courts is underway, with games available…

3 weeks ago

Tsitsikamma and Trail Running – setting the gold standard for inclusive conservation

Victor Mokoena and his team in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park…

4 weeks ago

Xaba and Tola re-write the record books at Sanlam’s Cape Town Marathon

Rising Ethiopian marathon star, Abdisa Tola, and South Africa’s running great, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, created…

1 month ago