Liverpool Should Be More Like Chelsea? Ask Klopp About It.
By Paul Drake
Should Liverpool be more like Chelsea? Jürgen Klopp thinks so, in a way. Sky Sports reports that Klopp has encouraged his players to be more like Chelsea, in order to close out matches properly.
The Reds are currently 3rd in the table, with 31 matches played. That seems like an advantageous position but both Arsenal and Manchester United have 3 more fixtures to play to equal Liverpool’s matches-played. That is a little frightening.
In addition, The Reds drew 2-2 at home against Bournemouth on Wednesday. Liverpool struggle to put lower-table opponents away, late in matches. It happened again, Bournemouth slipped up and forced an equalizer in the 87th minute. It was a heartbreaking draw!
Less Choking, More Chelsea
On Wednesday after going up 2-1 against Bournemouth, Klopp made an interesting substitution – Joel Matip for Philippe Coutinho. Klopp’s change was purely defensive and it back-fired. Liverpool’s defense could not stop Joshua King from slapping the ball into the back of the net.
This is not the first match Liverpool has let this happen. In December, a similar result occurred against Bournemouth. Then in January the Reds let Sunderland and Swansea slip up on them. Later in February, Hull City and Leicester had the same dark-magical spell on the Reds. Now finally in April Liverpool have, yet again, let Bournemouth ruin their day.
Prior to Joshua King’s goal, Liverpool began to break down, concede possession, and sit back in defense. This simply did not work, and Klopp knows it.
Klopp had this to say, “Probably if it was Chelsea, for example, the opponent would not have the ball three times in the last 20 minutes, I think.”
More from Rush The Kop
- Set to return, Virgil Van Dijk facing heavy criticism back home
- Liverpool making late comebacks all the rage once again
- Wolves tilt gives Klopp opportunity to tinker with lineup following international duty
- Players to watch in the matchup with Wolves
- Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures
That is simply unacceptable, Liverpool should not concede that much possession to a side like Bournemouth. The Reds have high-octane pace, creativity, and pressing. When they sit back other sides tend to pick them apart. Liverpool tend to keep defenses focused on their attack, when you stop attacking all it takes is a slip through the Reds defense to score a goal.
Klopp continued, “We don’t have this experience. Probably you need things like last night to get more experience than this, even though the result was not that good. On the other hand, we’ve probably still scored more goals in the Premier League so far, so it’s part of the game that we try to create moments all the time.”
Klopp is correct, Liverpool have scored 66 goals this season, four more than Chelsea. It will be interesting to see if Klopp and the boys learn from their mistakes, Klopp said, “We have to get more experience in this, for sure.” Well let’s hope so boss.
The Reds must move forward from this and learn to close out matches in the future. They have seven matches remaining and need EVERY point they can get to maintain their grip on a Champions League spot for next season. #TrustKlopp