Jurgen Klopp confirms suspicions about 4-0 defeat to Manchester City

Add as preferred source on Google

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed suspicions about Liverpool’s 4-0 defeat against Manchester City last July. The Reds just weren’t at it in that game.

Liverpool’s first game as Premier League champions was a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men tore the Reds to shreds, in all honesty, and fully deserved their win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTLZGNMjW_Y

Liverpool just didn’t look at it. They looked, as we suggested soon after the game, completely unprepared for the test – a real rarity for the team under Jurgen Klopp.

And now, as the Reds prepare to face off at the Etihad Stadium once again, Klopp has confirmed those suspicions. He says he didn’t actually know how to prepare his players for the clash.

“If you are not 100% focused on the game against Manchester City, you will lose big!” Klopp said, per the Liverpool Echo.

“I am not sure I needed that game as proof but that is 100 per cent the case. It’s the first time we won the league in England, so I had no idea how to prepare for the next game, actually.”

Klopp went on to explain the problem he faced.

“I didn’t want to overdo it and say ‘boys, forget it, whatever happened three days ago, forget it’ and all these kinds of things,” he said. “I didn’t do that – I am not sure if that was right or wrong.

“I know my boys wanted to win that game but we were not as focused as we usually are.”

What RTK has to say

It’s not exactly a surprise to hear it but it’s great seeing Klopp be so honest. It was, in a rarity for the boss, a game where he didn’t know what to do.

And what should you do? Liverpool won the league at a canter and were heading to the hardest ground they have to play at. How do you motivate the team?

It was especially tough to keep the players going after going behind. The fight just wasn’t there as there wasn’t a burning desire to take on such a tough task.

Fortunately, this bodes well for today’s game. Liverpool are in a very different situation as they look to extend the lead over their title rivals. You can bet Klopp knows how to get the players up for this one.