Boss: We're prepared for Leicester but need to react
As Liverpool prepare to face league leaders Leicester City this afternoon, Jürgen Klopp admits his team have to learn how to adapt to the different challenges of each individual match.
The Reds were undone by Watford amid testing conditions last weekend, losing 3-0 at Vicarage Road to make it four games without a victory in all competitions.
Leicester will pose no less a challenge at Anfield either – Claudio Ranieri’s side sit proudly top of the table having won 11 of their 17 fixtures and plundered 37 goals so far.
Klopp insists Liverpool are ready to rise to that task but will have to adapt quickly and sufficiently to changing circumstances to claim the Boxing Day points.
“There is a real good character but we have to create a much better mentality to win games in a row,” said the manager.
“You know the history of this club. When I came here there was a little bit of the feeling of a knock two years before: ‘we were so close [to the title] after this long time’. We needed a new start for this.
“With development, you have knocks. You never want these knocks but we had one in Watford. We need to have a good plan and take the right decisions in the right moment.
“The pitch at Watford was not good. Play over the midfield please, we are not there to draw perfect football. The first goal was a horror and the second was only a long ball behind the line. That is what we have to learn.
“Playing easy, simple, long balls, give us options to fight for second balls around the box. That is what we had to do in this special game. For Saturday, we need a few more ideas and we will be prepared.”