I’m not sure what effected the Liverpool squad, because nearly everybody gave a half-hearted performance.
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“I’m really looking forward to pre-season”. “We should have killed it off and I’m disappointed not to have the three points”. We didn’t defend really compact and not together and invested a lot and it makes you exhausted. We lost patience. When you lose patience in football it is always hard.
“I like the game very much, with his attitude and he’s training every now and then with us”, Hiddink said. It’s another session, it’s not about beating our opponents.
Liverpool players are going to have a unique experience in preparing for next season after Jürgen Klopp stated his intention to introduce triple training sessions in pre-season.
“When we do that, we know it is hard to beat us”.
And the German manager warned his players they can not be expecting a typical end-of-season vacation. “I’d prefer it if I didn’t score and we won the game instead”, he added.
Asked if he considered his goal to be special, Hazard replied: “It’s not special because we didn’t win!”
If Liverpool remain eighth they can not possibly qualify for the Europa League. I said to my players after the game that this was the most important game of the season because we could learn a lot from it.
“That means when you come back you are not at nil, you are at 60-70% and then you can start training”.
“Everything you do is based around physical potential and what you create in pre-season is key to that”.
Begovic’s one task in the second half was to stick out a hand to brilliantly deny Sturridge in a one-on-one. It’s always good to see the reaction and his reaction shows he’s capable of playing the way he played.
Incoming manager Antonio Conte must ensure that Hazard remains at the club next season – and that he gets the best out of him – if the Blues are to once more become title contenders. That shows the right training works. But we can take a lot from this match.
Mario Gotze looks to be on his way to Anfield.
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Win that silverware and Jurgen Klopp’s team will qualify for the Champions League group stage, but should the Spanish club clinch a hat-trick of Europa League trophies it changes the picture for the Reds.
