Klopp: Rodgers taught Reds players to play
LIVERPOOL — Jurgen Klopp believes some of the credit for his unbeaten start as Liverpool boss should go to Brendan Rodgers.
Klopp is unbeaten in six matches as manager at Anfield, and says that is thanks in part to the “solid base” that his predecessor put down.
Rodgers was sacked on Oct. 4 as the Reds lay 10th in the Premier League, with Klopp appointed as his successor four days later, signing a three-year contract.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager drew his first three games in charge, but has followed that up with three successive victories, including a 3-1 Premier League win at champions Chelsea last Saturday.
Klopp’s team also took a significant step towards reaching the Europa League last 32 by beating Rubin Kazan 1-0 in Russia on Thursday.
He is looking to follow that up with a fourth successive victory on Sunday when Crystal Palace visit Anfield in the Premier League.
The new manager insists that he has only had to “turn the small screws” — or make minor adjustments — in order to improve the team’s form.
He said: “What I said at the beginning is that you have to turn the small screws, and that’s what we’re doing at the moment. Brendan did a really good job and there’s a good base here because of Brendan’s work.
“I didn’t have to teach the players how to play football. Brendan’s work had done that.”
What Klopp has tried to do is to remove the fear factor that had crept in as Rodgers began to struggle in the manager’s job.
Rodgers suggested in September that his players had become apprehensive about playing at Anfield.
Klopp noted after his first home league match in charge, a 1-1 draw against Southampton on Oct. 25, that Liverpool were nervous when in attacking positions, and so not making enough of their goal threat.
He feels, though, that those nerves are slowly being eased, with the players putting in plenty of work themselves to get rid of their apprehension.
Klopp said: “A little bit of stability is very important for offensive play. You feel free when you know that not every chance for the opponent is going to be a goal.
“We had this situation against Southampton. With their late equaliser, it was easy to see that everything changed.
“When you see problems, you don’t always have to put your finger in and say it. But if it’s a big problem, you have to find the solution.
“The reaction to that came from the players. They did it in the next game. That’s the talent of the players. They did it at Chelsea and that helped us a lot.”
Liverpool’s players undertook a 5,000-mile round trip to the Republic of Tatarstan to play Rubin on Thursday, but Klopp will not allow tiredness to be an excuse against Palace.
He said: “If we had travelled by train or by car it would be a big problem. But we travelled by plane.
“I’m 48 and it’s not the best age to be, but I slept well on the plane and in the morning at home. It’s a normal journey and a normal thing to do if you want to play in international tournaments.
“Playing Thursday and Sunday is no different to playing Wednesday and Saturday. If you don’t think you are tired, then you can still be awake.
“I don’t believe that it’s an issue. It’s about how you feel. Of course it’s better if you don’t play midweek, but it’s only an advantage for Palace if we are not prepared to fight. If we wait for an easy game against Palace, then we have no chance.
“But if we fight and try to find solutions, we can do it. We are fit, we are healthy and young, and we can do it.”
Klopp is likely to restore Martin Skrtel, Lucas Leiva, Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho to the starting lineup on Sunday after all four began on the bench in Russia on Thursday. Striker Daniel Sturridge, though, is still struggling with a knee problem that has forced him to miss all six of Klopp’s games in charge to date.
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