A year after challenging on four fronts, the Reds are fighting for a place in Europe
Jurgen Klopp has warned rivals that his Liverpool team has nothing to lose as they try to force their way into the Champions League places in the final weeks of the Premier League season.
The Reds were chasing an unprecedented quadruple this time last year, but the following season has been a major disappointment, with Klopp’s men 12 points out of a Champions League spot and fighting for a Europa League spot.
“We have nothing to lose because we are in a position where we don’t want to be at the table,” Klopp explained.
“We must try new things.” The things we tried did not work properly or consistently. Everything is on the table.”
Liverpool have gone five games without a win since their famous 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United in early March, a result that, like the 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth in August, has proven to be an outlier in an otherwise disappointing season.
Bournemouth avenged that rout with a 1-0 win over Klopp’s men last month, Liverpool’s first game after the United victory, and defeats against Real Madrid and Manchester City followed before draws with Chelsea and Arsenal in a grueling schedule.
“The results weren’t great, but the performances weren’t great,” Klopp said of the team’s recent run.
“After 7-0 I doubt you’ll ever learn how to deal with it. It’s not so much that we were flying through the week as these little expectations within yourself. You think, ‘OK, now I’m clicking, I’m scoring,’ but then you realize that other things aren’t going so well.
“Winning 2-0 five times in a row is far superior to, bam (7-0). It’s been a strange season; we all agree it’s not our best season, but it has produced two of our best results in history. It’s completely bizarre. It demonstrates their ability, but why we can’t do it every week is a mystery.
“We need to work on the solution.” The reaction could have been better, but it wasn’t on purpose, neither from the boys nor from me. We didn’t think we were the best because we beat United with an unbelievable result.
“Things happened this season because we were inconsistent, and that’s the problem.”
Now comes a trip to Elland Road and a match against relegation-threatened Leeds, who will be looking to respond after a second-half collapse in last week’s 5-1 loss to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.
Klopp saw encouraging signs from his team in the goalless draw with Chelsea and last week’s late comeback to draw 2-2 with leaders Arsenal.
“We expect (Leeds) to be on their toes, massive fight, proper atmosphere,” he added. It will be difficult, but we must build on two games in which we were good or very good at times. That is something we will try to do.
“I’m excited for the game.” Leeds will give it their all. We must make do with what we have. It will never be an easy game, but neither should it be against us.”
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