SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Klopp wants Liverpool's 'little flower' to bloom

LONDON (Reuters) - Juergen Klopp seems like he is slowly planting the seeds for a rejuvenated Liverpool to blossom in the future but the German coach acknowledges that it is a fragile process.

Klopp wants Liverpool's 'little flower' to bloom
(Reuters)

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Skip to article content

The five-times European champions have not won a major trophy since they lifted the 2012 League Cup but a Europa League last-16 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United on Thursday showed the team's self-belief is growing under Klopp.

"Confidence is a little flower," he told a news conference ahead of Sunday's Premier League match at seventh-placed Southampton.

"If you step on it, it is away in a second. It is a lot more difficult to let it grow. We have to see," added Klopp who was wearing a Beatles tee-shirt as he addressed the media.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"It's not only about confidence, it's about feeling more and more trust in our way of playing. I don’t know how much we ran yesterday but especially in the first game it was really intense."

Klopp, who took over in October after Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers, wants his players to reproduce the high-tempo performance they showed over two legs against United on a more consistent basis.

"We have to carry on playing like this," said the former Borussia Dortmund coach. "We are a possession team but we are a team with an intense style ... we need a higher rhythm.

"The players have quality, everyone can see this, it is important we feel better in this style of play."

Liverpool, who are eighth in the league, are unsure if left back Alberto Moreno will return against Southampton after the Spaniard missed the United match with a hamstring injury.

"Alberto is a player who ignores pain," said Klopp. "He will have another scan today then it will be much more clear.

"If there is nothing maybe we try on Sunday."

Within minutes of Klopp's news conference finishing, the draw for next month's quarter-finals of the Europa League pitted Liverpool against his former club Dortmund.

(Writing by Tony Jimenez,; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world