Jürgen Klopp's assessment of Everton challenge
Jürgen Klopp has detailed why he expects Sunday’s Merseyside derby with Everton to be one of the most difficult Liverpool have contested during his tenure so far.
The Blues come to Anfield in sixth place in the Premier League standings having avoided defeat in each of their three November outings.
The Reds, meanwhile, were be aiming to serve up a response to their midweek disappointment after going down to a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain France.
Klopp hosted his pre-match press conference at Melwood on Friday afternoon – read on for a summary of what he expects to face when Liverpool take on Everton on Sunday.
On whether it’s the ideal game to bounce back from after defeat in Paris…
Why we would need a defeat in Paris to make sure we would be fully motivated for the Everton game? There’s no need for that. It is the game we have - and it is a special game, I have to say. Since I am in, it’s always felt it, it always was different in the preparation. The only bad thing is that we have never had really enough time to really prepare for it. You have a great game and then three days later you play the next game. In an ideal world we would have a week to prepare [for] it and talk about it, build up a lot of things. Now it is a bit different, but that’s the only thing - all the rest is exactly how it should be. Big game, really good opponent. The games were always difficult in the last few years, but the improvement of Everton is obvious. It’s a completely different team, a different style, it’s good.
On whether this Everton side will be the toughest he’s faced so far…
It would be not too nice for all the other managers [if I said that]. He [Marco Silva] has the best squad as well. They brought in players he wanted - Richarlison, what a player he is. Last year Walcott came in, which is really good [for them]. Bernard came in this year. Gomes came in this year. Mina came in this year. Since I am in, Everton was always really busy but now it is the best tuned squad, 100 per cent. I know they spoke about last year when Rooney came back and Sigurdsson came in and it was said together they cannot play and stuff, a lack of speed and all these things. Now everything is there - creativity, speed, good organisation. Coleman is back and fit. Keane is settled and fit. Mina, brilliant player and very important for their build-up and everything. Digne, like a young Baines if you want. A really, really, really good team and they have England’s No.1 in goal, so that’s a proper squad and it would be in all leagues in Europe, I am 100 per cent sure, a European team for whichever competition. In England it is quite difficult, but the development and improvement is obvious.
On the importance of continuing Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League record…
Unbelievably important because it will only continue if we get the result we want to, that’s how it is. How I said, and the people know it already – I don’t have to say it – it’s not that we are being overly respectful of Everton, but if do analysis of Everton and then tell me if it will be an easy game. Tell me, ‘Here are their weaknesses’. They defend really, really good. They have good players in all positions and all that stuff. We have all that as well, so it will be a fight, nothing else. It will not be the most easy game in the world, but nobody expects that usually in a derby – and we shouldn’t do it this time. We will not and if anyone else would do that I can’t believe it. We have to be ready for a proper, proper fight and that’s how derbies should be.
On his good record against Everton so far…
I am not a bit interested. It’s not important - different teams, different managers, different times. Everything is different. Different day. I don’t know last year who we played before [the derby], was it after one week preparation? Was it in a very busy period of whatever? I don’t know because it’s not important. What’s important is we are prepared for this game – and that’s what we have to make sure. If one of my players would go into the game and give me a little bit of a feeling that because we’ve won so far since we are together pretty much all home games [against Everton] - and that will not happen - but he would not be part of the game. You can’t make anything with these results in the past or whatever, it’s just good that we won these games and got results from these games. The most exciting one was the late winner of Sadio at Everton, that was really great and felt unbelievable. There were good games we played against Everton at home, there we were always really competitive and took the atmosphere. We have to make sure as a club and as a team that we create an atmosphere which will be that exceptional that it makes it easier for the players to come in at 100 per cent fighting mood. Create an exceptional atmosphere, know about your job to do and help the team. I really think the boys deserve it, 100 per cent, that we make something special of it. Then, we still have to deliver on the pitch – but we know that in the moment when we sign the contract here. The boys are looking forward to it, 100 per cent.