Jürgen Klopp held a Monday afternoon press conference ahead of Liverpool's clash with Rangers, Tuesday night at Anfield. The 8 PM BST kick-off will be the Reds' third Champions League group stage match of the 2022/23 campaign.
The Liverpool boss answered a few questions about Liverpool's recent form. He started by talking about how it isn't easy to turn bad form into good form. Klopp talked briefly about the Brighton match on Saturday. The manager talked about spotting the Seagulls an early 2-goal lead on Saturday and then letting them tie the game late.
“We have to keep going… We have to improve. We have to play better, consistently better… Attack better…,” Klopp said acknowledging the Reds have not been playing up to their potential.
Klopp then spoke of the team's confidence at the moment. “It's not that we are without confidence but, being 2-0 down is not good for confidence. Being 3-2 up is usually really good for confidence but, you could see that the first attack we gave them (Brighton), was like oh it's still and open game…”
Defending the Defence
Klopp had to defend his team's defence again in today's press conference. All 3 goals against Brighton over the weekend were results of gaffs by Liverpool defenders. “We are conceding now similar goals. We have a brave way of defending but when the timing isn't there the spaces open up. We closed the gaps before with intensity,” Klopp admitted. .
“They have gone through the same gaps. When the timing in our defending isn't perfect we're too open. We have to be more compact.”
“Defending is an art, and it worked for us really well for a long time. But when it's not working out you realise you have to go back to the basics.”
The call for getting back to the basics on defense has echoes of what Klopp said about the last Champions League match against Ajax. The boss repeatedly praised the defensive effort back on September 13th.
What's Up with Darwin?
Klopp talked a bit about managing Darwin Núñez. The question posed was that the striker had only started one match in 4 since his suspension, and if he was still adjusting to his new surroundings in Liverpool.
Klopp shed some light on the situation, “Players, new players, come in, everybody talks about them and wants them to shine immediately. That happens from time to time and sometimes not.”
“Only yesterday we had a long talk – with Pep Lijnders, because my Spanish or Portuguese is still not better – and we just told him ‘we are completely calm'.”
“So it's really important in our situation now not starting to worry – and he's not looking like he's worrying or whatever.”
Assessing the Rangers
Liverpool play one of the top sides from the Scottish Premiership in Rangers tomorrow night. Their league form has been good, as per usual. However, they have dropped their first two Champions League matches by an aggregate of 7-0 this year.
Rangers made it all the way to the Europa League final last year. They lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville in May. Klopp was complimentary of tomorrow night's opponent. “ Good football team, well coached, exceptional European season last year obviously… Really good football team and that is what we have to prepare for”
LFC Globe Verdict
Jürgen Klopp was once again honest in his assessment of Liverpool going into this match. It's hard not to be, the Reds' shortcomings are on display for all to see at the moment. The time is now to back up the talk with action.
We expect the boss to shuffle the deck against Rangers. The expectations are that Núñez will get a start tomorrow to give the striker a jumpstart against a team struggling in the Champions League. Expect at least one change on the backline as well.