LONDON • Liverpool have lost their two games this year but manager Jurgen Klopp believes there is no reason to panic, with his side still four points ahead at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds lost 2-1 to second-placed Manchester City, who are on 50 points, before they lost to Wolves by the same scoreline on Monday in the FA Cup third round.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of today's league trip to Brighton, Klopp said: "So far our season has been really good and now we need to carry on.
"Two weeks ago everyone was so excited about the distance between (us and City). Now we have lost two games, not nice but not a real problem."
Criticism of his decision to make nine changes for Wolves is still fresh in his ears, as the Reds have now been eliminated from both domestic Cup competitions at the first hurdle. But that will be a small price to pay should they land a first league title since 1990.
When asked if there is an advantage now that they can fully focus on the league, Klopp said: "It's my preferred rhythm (having just one domestic game a week).
"It's our situation, it's not that we decided to go out of the Cups. We had to make changes (and play second-string players) because of the intensity of the games."
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
TODAY
West Ham v Arsenal
Ch102 & Ch227, 8.30pm
Brighton v Liverpool
Ch102 & Ch227, 11pm
Leicester v Southampton
Ch103 & Ch228, 11pm
Crystal Palace v Watford
Ch104 & Ch229, 11pm
Cardiff v Huddersfield
Ch105 & Ch230, 11pm
Burnley v Fulham
Ch106 & Ch231, 11pm
Chelsea v Newcastle
Ch102 & Ch227, tomorrow, 1.30amTOMORROW
Everton v Bournemouth
Ch102 & Ch227, 10.15pm
Tottenham v Man United
Ch102 & Ch227, Monday, 12.30amMONDAY
Man City v Wolves
Ch102 & Ch227, Tuesday, 4am
All on Singtel TV & StarHub
He called Brighton a good team, adding: "(Lewis) Dunk and (Shane) Duffy are outstanding centre-halves. (Davy) Propper is playing his best season in England and is a good pairing with (Dale) Stephens."
After that, they have another three very winnable home games against Leicester, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth plus a trip to West Ham before facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Those five games provide them with a perfect platform to at least consolidate their lead, after the disappointment of losing their unbeaten league record to City to give the champions a foothold back in the title race.
Klopp will recall most of his key players who skipped FA Cup duty, but an injury to Dejan Lovren leaves him short of options at centre-back with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip also sidelined. Fabinho may have to deputise in defence once more alongside the calming presence of Virgil van Dijk.
Brighton, with 26 points, are well-placed to achieve their principal target of avoiding relegation with a 10-point cushion above the drop zone, thanks in large part to a strong home record.
Only Tottenham and Chelsea have been victorious in 10 league games at the Amex Stadium. But Brighton manager Chris Hughton knows he has a tough task.
"I think he (Klopp) has been outstanding. This season shows what a great job he's done. Liverpool are better prepared and it's all led by him," he said.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
BRIGHTON V LIVERPOOL
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 11pm
"Neymar Jr will travel to Aspetar (sports clinic) in Qatar for the next 3 days as scheduled in the initial recovery plan," the club wrote on its Twitter account. "He will undertake a complete assessment after six weeks of his injury. He will be accompanied by a medical team from PSG."
Football: Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment
Football news - Wolves deepen Cardiff's relegation plight with 2-0 win. By Reuters. 02/03/2019 at 17:34 Updated 02/03/2019 at 19:01.
Wolves deepen Cardiff's relegation plight with 2-0 win - The
LIONEL MESSI scored the 50th hat-trick of his career as Barcelona twice came from behind to defeat Sevilla 4-2 in La Liga. Messi's goalscoring love affair with Sevilla continued at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium as he has now scored more goals against them than any other team - 36 in 35 matches, including what […]
Messi notches 50th career hat-trick as La Liga leaders
Football: Valencia chairman Murthy says King's Cup victory 'icing on the cake' to a fine season - The Straits Times In just five seasons after taking over in 2014, Peter Lim's Valencia are entering their most successful era in recent years.
Messi and youngster Munir get Enrique's Barcelona off to a
Olaroiu tells Al Ahli: Forget past matches and focus on the game at hand despite Makhete Diop's brace within two minutes to subdue the Hawks. And for this we need to stay focused all the
Conte: We have to stay focused - Premier League
Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up Share 0. Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - April
WRAPUP 2-Soccer-Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium
Kane Making 'Fantastic' Recovery, Says Spurs Boss Pochettino
MADRID: Zinedine Zidane will make a shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday to sack Santiago Solari, say reports in the Spanish press. Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly met with the board and resolved to dismiss Solari, with Zidane set to be his replacement, nine months after he resigned at the end of last season.
Zidane set for shock Madrid return | Free Malaysia Today
Get a report of the Cardiff City vs. Huddersfield Town 2018/2019 English Premier League football match. Huddersfield end losing run with draw at Cardiff. play.
Huddersfield end losing run with 0-0 draw at Cardiff
Football: Bologna earn Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio thriller Bologna's Andrea Poli (left) celebrates with teammate Riccardo Orsolini after scoring his side's first goal against Lazio during
Football: Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal
Man City appeal against possible Champions League ban
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to go all out attack against Paris Saint-Germain. Goal. Sooraj Kamath. 09 What does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer need to do to overturn the tie? United will have to keep a
Solskjaer vows to make Utd players run faster and further
Borussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic has been linked with a January move to Chelsea but his club are determined to keep hold of him. Pulisic Not for Sale in January, Says Dortmund Chief
Indian Football: 3 Deserving Players who could be called up for national team by new coach Igor Stimac MSN; School football coaches to be licenced , says Ogwel Daily Monitor; We need to keep improving: Singapore football association chief Lim Kia Tong The Straits Times; Qatar's 'Challenge 22' winning app SnapGoal aiming to unite football fans Goal
Lim Kia Tong elected new FAS president - ESPN
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen