Jurgen Klopp believes that the match between Liverpool and Manchester City, which is at the top of the table, should be watched by everyone on the planet. However, he also believes that the outcome of the game will not determine the path of his team.
On Saturday afternoon, Liverpool will face off against City at the Etihad Stadium in a highly anticipated Premier League match. They are determined to be the first team to break City’s 23-game unbeaten streak at home across all competitions.
Klopp has a better record than Pep Guardiola in their head-to-head matchups, winning 12 out of 28 meetings compared to Guardiola’s 11. He leads his improved Liverpool team with renewed confidence as they head down the M62.
If Liverpool wins, they will be two points ahead of City and reignite the intense competition between the two teams in the Premier League. This rivalry was full of excitement from 2019 to 2022, but calmed down last season due to changes in Klopp’s team, who placed fifth. Facing City once more is a thrilling opportunity for the German coach, who believes his revamped team is getting closer to City but still considered the underdogs.
Klopp described the football match as incredibly thrilling. He stated that it was a game he would watch no matter where he was in the world. He questioned why anyone wouldn’t want to watch such a game, as it had all the necessary elements.
Many different outcomes are possible. We could perform poorly and end up losing, which is a possibility. It would be unlikely, almost impossible, for us to perform poorly and still win against City. On the other hand, we could play very well and not come out with a win, which is a common occurrence in football. All of these scenarios could happen to our team, as they are all part of the game. Our team is not being tested at the moment, but we are headed in the right direction, which is clear.
In the last six seasons, Liverpool’s Premier League victory in 2019-20 was the only time City did not win the title. This was also one of the two instances in his seven-year tenure at the club that Guardiola did not lift the trophy. However, City has shown some weaknesses this season, losing points to Wolves, Arsenal, and Chelsea in recent matches. Their last home game without a win in any competition was a 1-1 draw with Everton on December 31, 2022.
Klopp stated that as a run continues, the probability of it ending increases. He acknowledged the strength of the opposing team and cannot find any weaknesses to exploit. Previous matches are irrelevant and the focus should be on making it difficult for them. It seems like the gap between the two teams has narrowed, which is positive. However, winning the key battles on the field and maintaining a strong defensive shape are still crucial in achieving victory on match day.
“I have a strong inclination towards organizing tasks to gain an advantage, which is rooted in my personality. In my opinion, defense is a crucial aspect of the game and serves as the foundation of my philosophy, potentially differing from Pep’s. We have not had discussions about this as we are not particularly close.”
In some cases, there may be spaces that we need to utilize. However, if there are no spaces, we must have the patience to create alternative solutions.
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This team relies heavily on their goalie to build their plays. However, if you can find a way to counter this strategy, their goalie, Ederson, will adjust accordingly. This unpredictability is what makes football so fascinating. Despite this, every team has their own patterns and limitations. The field is the same for everyone. Personally, I enjoy strategizing against teams that want possession of the ball because it allows for creativity and opportunities. It becomes much more challenging when the opponent willingly gives up possession.
Klopp chose not to reiterate his previous grievances about the early kick-off time of 12:30pm. The Premier League made this decision in consultation with Greater Manchester police and broadcasters, citing the recent increase in arrests during matches between Manchester City and Liverpool as one of the factors. Additionally, City will also be playing a Champions League game against RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
This will mark the 14th occasion that Liverpool has competed in the Saturday lunchtime time slot during Klopp’s eight-year tenure as manager, which is twice as many as most of their well-known “big six” competitors.
When questioned about the start time, Klopp declined to comment and stated that his English is not proficient enough to effectively communicate his thoughts. He did not want to waste anyone’s time or energy. He has attempted to explain in the past but is now tired of doing so. He now enjoys playing at 12:30 and has a positive outlook towards it.
Source: theguardian.com
