Jurgen Klopp insists he is not ‘too loyal’ to players but accepts Liverpool are ‘underperforming’
Jurgen Klopp insists he is not ‘too loyal’ to players but accepts Liverpool are ‘underperforming’.
With the Reds in the midst of a defensive crisis, Dejan Lovren will partner Virgil van Dijk when Brighton visit Anfield on Monday night.
The Croatian has not started a Premier League game since January due to illness and injury but Klopp believes it is important to keep faith with those who have struggled in recent weeks.
“I can’t say I’m too loyal because that’s not right,” he said. “But sometimes it’s important for a player to know he hasn’t been put on the bench because he’s bad or something like that – but because there was another player doing better at this moment.”
“It’s not always easy for them – but sometimes they need these moments where they have to accept a hard decision.”
Jurgen Klopp insists he is not ‘too loyal’ to players but accepts Liverpool are ‘underperforming’.
Jurgen Klopp insists he is not ‘too loyal’ to players but accepts Liverpool are ‘underperforming’.
The German has established himself as a manager who will stick by those he believes in, regardless of how they perform on the pitch.
However, with his side currently 12 points off Premier League leaders Manchester City and having lost three of their last five matches – including Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Tottenham – it appears Klopp may be ready to make changes for Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Napoli.
With the Reds in the midst of a defensive crisis, Dejan Lovren will partner Virgil van Dijk when Brighton visit Anfield on Monday night.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is not “too loyal” to players but accepts Liverpool are “underperforming”.
With the Reds in the midst of a defensive crisis, Dejan Lovren will partner Virgil van Dijk when Brighton visit Anfield on Monday night.
It’s been a tough time for Lovren recently – he missed out on Croatia’s World Cup squad after being overlooked by Zlatko Dalic for their final two games against Bulgaria and Kosovo which confirmed their place at Russia 2018 with victory over Group I rivals Ukraine last month before returning home early due to illness ahead of his side’s quarter-final win over hosts France last week as well as missing games against West Ham United (A), Manchester City (H) & Crystal Palace (A).
The Croatian has not started a Premier League game since January due to illness and injury but Klopp believes it is important to keep faith with those who have struggled in recent weeks.
The Croatian has not started a Premier League game since January due to illness and injury but Klopp believes it is important to keep faith with those who have struggled in recent weeks.
“He [Lovren] was ill quite often, he played so many games last year,” said Klopp. “In this moment he is not at his best level but that’s how things go.”
“Even when they are not 100%, they can still help us a lot.”
“I can’t say I’m too loyal because that’s not right,” he said. “But sometimes it’s important for a player to know he hasn’t been put on the bench because he’s bad or something like that – but because there was another player doing better at this moment.”
“I can’t say I’m too loyal because that’s not right,” he said. “But sometimes it’s important for a player to know he hasn’t been put on the bench because he’s bad or something like that – but because there was another player doing better at this moment.”
Klopp added: “I am not saying our performances have been perfect, but you need these situations in order to get better.”
“It’s not always easy for them – but sometimes they need these moments where they have to accept a hard decision.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is not “too loyal” to players and has no problem making hard decisions, but accepts that sometimes those decisions are not easy for them.
Klopp has come under fire for his treatment of Joel Matip, who was left out of the side earlier this season despite being fit and available. However, the German said he did not want to be accused of being overly sentimental in future when it comes to selection issues at Anfield.
“We all have our own responsibility,” Klopp told Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Southampton on Saturday night (December 1). “It’s not always easy for them – but sometimes they need these moments where they have to accept a hard decision.”
Lovren will be only the second defender to start three consecutive matches along with Van Dijk since January. He started against Leicester, Arsenal and Burnley but missed the last two games against Wolves and Man City due to sickness and injury respectively.
Lovren will be only the second defender to start three consecutive matches along with Van Dijk since January. He started against Leicester, Arsenal and Burnley but missed the last two games against Wolves and Man City due to sickness and injury respectively.
The Croatian international has been outstanding this season, having put behind his mistakes of last term when he was criticised by Klopp and fans alike after a poor run of form which led him being dropped from the side by January.
Conclusion
Klopp believes the decision will pay dividends in the long run, but admits that he would have preferred not to have had to make it. “We have other players who have been performing well in training and we could have taken them,” he added. “But I think Dejan has shown a lot of self-confidence and belief in these last few days, so now it’s up to him.”
