Jurgen Klopp happy with Liverpool’s progress in EPL despite hurdles in season of transition

LONDON – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is satisfied with his team’s progress in a season of transition where they brought in a host of new recruits, with the Anfield club sitting second in the standings after 15 games.

The Reds’ engine room was rebuilt in the close season with five midfielders leaving the club, while injuries have also made things difficult, but the German’s side have weathered the storm to sit two points behind leaders Arsenal.

Although they were dealt another blow after losing Joel Matip to a potential season-ending injury, Klopp said other clubs could also be in the same boat with games coming thick and fast in the busiest period of the season.

“I wanted to create a basis early on in pre-season and then to become a real team, you have to overcome difficulties. We got that with red cards, being down in games – and we could overcome that,” he said on Dec 8.

“I am just happy with the development up until this point. We had to replace some of the strongest characters in world football. Our new leadership group are all experienced, world-class footballers, so that’s helpful.

“All teams are probably only two injuries away from a real problem, we’re in the middle of a tricky period with a lot of football and a lot of opportunities.”

The early kick-off at Crystal Palace on Dec 9 offers Liverpool the chance provisionally to go top of the standings, but they will be without injured midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker is still a doubt.

Klopp said Liverpool could have got a better points haul at this stage but added that the title race is tight with several contenders.

“It’s a bit unusual (Manchester) City is not top of the table with 10 points between first and second. Arsenal are doing extremely well, we’re doing not too bad, Aston Villa are super strong,” he said.

“We could have – or should have – a few points more, but we don’t. We are where we are and that’s ok.”

Klopp also praised Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who managed Liverpool over a decade ago and is still going strong at the age of 76.

“He’s an outstanding person, a really nice man. When I see him I ask him, ‘What are you still doing here’?” he said.

“But he looks happy, enjoys the job. I couldn’t respect it more. He was my inspiration, but he doesn’t inspire me to work in the job that long. I don’t know how he’s doing that, to be honest.”

While Klopp lavished praise on the Englishman, he was also on the receiving end of some as well.

City manager Pep Guardiola, who is widely considered as the greatest of his generation, called his Liverpool counterpart his most difficult opponent.

He told Sky Sports: “(The first reason why Klopp has been my toughest rival is because) we’ve faced each other 1,000 million times.

“Second, because he’s beaten me a lot and that (has) always been a challenge, to face him again and again and again. So, we respect each other – at least, from my point of view, I respect him a lot.

“Of course, we have arguments and I don’t like to be beaten by him, but he’s been my biggest rival (because of the) amount of times we (have faced each other) and the pleasure when you beat him – because you know how difficult it is.”

As highly as he rates Klopp, there are still a few past managers he puts above the Reds boss in his pecking order.

He said: “Sir Alex (Ferguson) is No. 1 for the amount of titles he won, the change and consistency.

“I would say, close after, Johan Cruyff and Arrigo Sacchi. It’s not just their tactics, it’s the influence. Sacchi didn’t win titles like Sir Alex, but he changed generations of managers and players.

“Cruyff changed two clubs: Ajax (Amsterdam) and Barcelona. At Barcelona, we said, ‘Where do we go?’ and he said, ‘OK, guys, we’re going to go that way’. You have to have a huge personality and huge belief to do that. For me, they are the best.” REUTERS