31 March 2023 , 21:30
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Jurgen Klopp didn’t mince his words as he insisted it’s “b*******” to say Liverpool aren’t good enough to compete at the top level any more.
But the Reds manager also spoke bluntly as he conceded even he can’t predict whether his ‘real Reds’ will turn up at Manchester City this weekend…or the pale shadow of a team which has been seen all too often this season.
Ahead of the showdown with the club he has fought with so ferociously over the years, Klopp was asked if the 19-point gap between his side and City was now a true reflection of the gap between the clubs. His reply showed a real grasp of the language.
“It is an anomaly. Look, of course it's completely normal for people to say 'that's not good enough, and here's not good enough, and there's not good enough', but that’s b******* because (of what happened) the years before.
“It doesn’t change overnight, you don't lose all our brains and fitness and medical (department). Things happen and then you have to react, but when you are a little bit unlucky in this direction then it's really difficult and the league is running away at that moment.”
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Klopp insisted he will not overreact to some shock results and poor performances this season, as he again made clear that he always knew a rebuild would be required seven years into his reign.
Jurgen Klopp certainly thinks Liverpool are still good enough to compete for titles (Liverpool FC)But he did admit that the extent of his side’s collapse this season, with only fourth place to pursue from March after chasing every trophy in the previous campaign, has “surprised” him massively.
And he made clear he and his team brought all the criticism on themselves, with some shocking inconsistency, and an alarming lack of fight when things have gone against his side in matches this time around.
Asked if he knew which Liverpool would turn up against City, he replied with a wry smile: “I would love to say; ‘How can you ask this question?’ But yes, in this moment nobody can be 100% sure what we will be like.
“That is the situation we brought on ourselves - we showed all these kinds of faces, but the extent of it is a surprise. We are sixth, or seventh with the games in hand, and that is not where we want to be. For us that is not possible because we are not where we should be and where we have to be.
“There is inconsistency in moments, and we seem to struggle when we go behind. That's something we have to change, obviously. If you can only perform when everything is going in your direction, then there's absolutely no chance.”
With a rebuild on the way, the manager does want to see the real Liverpool stand up at their huge rivals this weekend: "All the talks we had, all the sessions we had, and when the players came back and I spoke to them - everything looks like it goes in the right direction and now we have to show it.”