Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is playing it cool over his return to Germany, insisting is just another match for him.
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Moreno and Caiuby had good chances in the final stages before Ji was nearly the hero when he struck the post late on after unleashing a first-time shot around 12 yards out, the former Sunderland man almost making a low-key display worse for Klopp’s men ahead of the second leg next week.
Klopp, who replaced Brendan Rodgers who was sacked by the Merseyside outfit in November, hasn’t made the impact desired at Anfield.
The match at the Augsburg Arena – one of the most intriguing of 15 games on Thursday including holders Sevilla at home to Molde, Manchester United at Midtjylland and Fiorentina at home to Tottenham Hotspur – is Klopp’s first back in his native Germany since he took over at Anfield in October. “We will be aggressive in our play, and want to keep the clean sheet”.
“I don’t believe in the number of transfers but we have to make solutions and we will make solutions – [but] seven really sounds a lot”, he said.
The 23-year-old full-back broke into the Liverpool first-team under Klopp’s predecessor Brendan Rodgers before he suffered a serious knee injury in the summer of 2014.
In order for Liverpool to reach the Champions League via their league position, Klopp has said one of the current top four clubs needs to have a “crisis” in order for Liverpool to stand any chance.
The FC boys have a laugh at Stevie Nicol for being happy with the result Liverpool got in Augsburg.
“I think we can play a lot better than that, especially in the final third keeping the ball a little bit better and moving it too slow at times”. Sometimes our “FA Cup squad” trained or were off and then the “Premier League squad” trained or were off. But we were always here. “The coaching staff have had no days off because we always had a team to train with and always a squad for the next game”. Too often Sturridge and Firmino’s movement created openings that demanded a penetrating pass, only for midfielders to select the safer option as Augsburg retreated and opted to play counter-attack. “My feeling is we could have done better”.
The game will obviously have extra significance for Toure, and if he plays next Thursday and helps Liverpool beat Augsburg, he’ll deserve his cup final place on merit. “We have been following Liverpool closely but we will prepare for them in the same way as we do any other match”.
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Manager Markus Weinzierl is now eager for his side to make the most of a meeting with the five-time European champions.
