West Ham vice-chairman Brady seems to sympathise with Klopp and has written in her football diary in The Sun (Saturday, November 28 entry): “Boss Jurgen Klopp says the England striker needs to learn to play through pain”.
Advertisement
I know a bit of their problems in the previous year. “Sometimes it happens like this and there is nothing to criticise – he has tried everything he can”. He trained almost normally but he doesn’t feel comfortable with it.
“Of course, he felt each muscle after the game”.
“When I started here, I (told the players) “I am the coach” but I believe in the opinions of players”, Koeman added. But yesterday (Thursday) nobody gave me that sign. “So today we will have to wait again”. Liverpool’s Capital One Cup win over Southampton has taken them to the semi-final where they will play Stoke City over two legs and they are handily placed in the league, only trailing leaders Manchester City by 6 points.
In team news, James Milner, Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho all should return to the starting XI while Emre Can serves a suspension.
One of those wins was 3-0 at West Brom last season shortly after Tony Pulis took over at the Hawthorns and the home side will struggle to close the gap in class.
Klopp was not seeking to play down the fact that the omens seem to be in their favour but the German knows lapses in concentration, as Liverpool showed in conceding early to Chelsea and Southampton in recent wins, could cost his side dear. At this moment, he is available for the weekend and we’ll have to see how he does this time. Joe Allen did well midweek, but the nod will likely go to Jordan Henderson with the captain making two cameo appearances after a foot injury kept him out since the end of August. “We try to do what we can to keep him fit”. It’s ideal we have him back and can bring him in the game.
“Hendo made a big step in the last few weeks and that is the best news”. We can give him time.
But as both he and his players come under intense pressure, McClaren remains convinced that one positive result would turn their season around.
Advertisement
“To be prepared for a game you have to know as much about the actual situation because everything can be motivation”.
