Jurgen Klopp previews Liverpool's clash with Crystal Palace

LFC Globe
18th January 2019
Liverpool FC

Jurgen Klopp spoke to reporters at Melwood ahead of Liverpool's meeting with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Liverpool are four points ahead of at the top of the league table, with victory another opportunity to extend the gap on their rivals.

Roy Hodgson's side come to having lost at to , with they sit just four points ahead of the relegation zone.

However, Crystal Palace must not be underestimated, having pulled off a surprise 3-2 victory against Man City at the Etihad ahead of Christmas.

Klopp insists that the visitors have a "really high quality" attack and they must respect their opposition on Saturday.

“Crystal Palace are really strong. I have said it a couple of times, but I don't know a lot of teams in Europe who have a front line with the quality of players like Townsend, Zaha, Benteke, Ayew or whoever else plays. It is really, really high quality,” he said.

“We can talk about the defence, with one of the most exciting right full-backs in England on the one side [Wan-Bissaka].

“A very experienced Dutch guy on the left side [Van Aanholt] and Sakho and Tomkins [in the middle]. Midfield, Milivojevic, Kouyate, McArthur, Meyer, whoever – it is a proper team.

“That's what we have to know and respect. It is not important how we played them last year or two years ago.”

The Reds beat Palace at Selhurst Park in August, with a penalty and Sadio Mane's injury time goal securing a 2-0 over the south London side.

“We won there [earlier in the season] and it was a difficult game. We know that and that's what we prepare for,” Klopp added.

“It is not important how we were last week, a year ago, half a year ago, a month ago – it is only important how we will be tomorrow. That's all I am interested in and it will be really tough.

“With a slightly damaged squad injury-wise, we had really good training [sessions] and hopefully we can bring that on the pitch. We should be prepared, we did all the important things, we gave the boys the right information and now we have to be ready for a proper fight again.

“That's what we are, I think. There are no real concerns or doubts anymore from one side, like the fans, about how we will be. It is rather a positive expectation. That's OK, but in the end we have to deliver. I am really excited about that because it will be a tough one again.

Liverpool FC

Image: Getty Images

“Having a lot of results in the past at home is good, but the only result I am interested in is the one tomorrow.”

When questioned about what has changed at Liverpool since his arrival over three years ago, Klopp suggested that the atmosphere and overall feeling at the club has been the biggest difference.

“Our common experience, the quality the boys produce on the pitch together with the group, that's the most different thing to two or three years ago,” he said.

“I am not sure, but was it a Crystal Palace game when I felt lonely (in 2015)? Because nobody thought we could change the game or whatever.

“The boys have produced a few nice performances at home since then, so it's a completely different atmosphere. That's really, really cool and it helps massively.

“There is an atmosphere and you have to use it. That's what the boys did. It's always who starts it first – is it first atmosphere and then the performance, or is it the performance and then the atmosphere? Meanwhile, we have reached a nice level and we have to use it again.”

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 3pm on Saturday and you can keep up with all the action via our live match-day coverage.

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