Jurgen Klopp returns to the scene of his first game as Liverpool manager at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, still searching for an effective winning formula. “Actually, why should I think about something like this?” he said, before explaining that while “Daniel Sturridge is a wonderfully skilful player”, he had picked his forwards based on the Tottenham defence they would face, and their readiness.
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The England worldwide played in a right-wing role last weekend as Liverpool lost 2-0 to Burnley and the striker came out and emphasised that his best position is as a striker. We played football and defended really good.
“It seems a long time since we’ve been there, it was a tough start as well”, Milner said, referring to games against Arsenal, Burnley and Spurs. In the post-match interview, he suggested that he is more than happy to play where the manager needs him to. They’ve brought a few very good players in with the basis of their former squad. It may be that he is simply short of fitness after missing the pre-season programme with an injury.
The England striker looked distinctly unimpressed after Divock Origi was brought on ahead of him during the Reds’ match at White Hart Lane, the Liverpool Echo report. The 6 ft 2 in big centre-back believed he was the victim of a prank and Jurgen Klopp had to send him a selfie to prove it was him! The Spurs captain was substituted before the end with the home side pursuing a victor and he seems to lack that sharpness which enabled him to turn the smallest opening into a goal last season.
To date Spurs have made just two major signings – Victor Wanyama and Vincent Janssen, both of whom played against Liverpool – and Pochettino admitted the transfer window had been trying. “Hopefully we can make different line-ups for different games”.
Christian Eriksen saw a free-kick beaten away by Mignolet and Dele Alli sliced a promising opening wide from 18 yards out as Spurs continued to look the more risky early on. They had chances to win the match but we played much better.
When asked about what he’d like to achieve before his contract at Liverpool runs out, he gave an unexpected answer. Klopp expects his players to exert wave after wave of pressure, with Philippe Coutinho and Mane either side of Firmino, and behind them Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum.
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“He still has to adapt and learn because he’s not had 500 games in this position but we will work on it, like we work on every player”, Klopp went onto say.
