Jürgen Klopp

[Cormack74]

Even Everton ffs.

[redmike65]

Thanks for that Jurgen!

[Bender]

Players and Klopp on holiday at Butlins
[ame]https://twitter.com/thisisanfield/status/712653928349827072[/ame]

[dww]

U21s captain Cameron Brannagan, versatile defender Joe Maguire, peripheral figure Jose Enrique and on-loan centre-back Steven Caulker also featured.

[peekay]

It was done and dusted in the first half though? The cold statistics are, we had let 3 goals in over 8.5 matches, or 765 mins, including a tough Europa tie and a cup final. That's to half time on Sunday. That's us finally finding form

Skrtel comes on at 2 nil up and gives a pen away (that is missed) chaos ensues and all of a sudden the defence ship 3 goals. I dunno what other evidence is really required? But if ever there was a case of an entire team capitulating because of one player, then this is it. Skrtel, much as Benteke, doesn't know how to play in the system that he has been told.

Skrtel is one of the main reason but not the only reason. We retreat into a shell when the opposition midfield and strikers start playing aggressively. We have no clue on how to handle the heat, take the pressure, slowly claw our way back into the game. When Wanyama started bossing our midfield and Mane started making aggressive runs, we panicked and lost it completely. Even if we had scored 4 goals in the first half, I think Southampton could have gotten a draw. Excerpt from football365:

There are no prizes for guessing where Liverpool’s problems lie. Klopp may wish to add one attacking player to his armoury, but Coutinho and Roberto Firmino at least provide a basis around which recruitment can be focused. Behind them, there is no obvious banker. Liverpool’s defensive structure is comprised of players who are either not quite, not quite anymore or not quite yet.

Liverpool have now conceded three or more in a Premier League game six times this season, a total ‘beaten’ only by Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Norwich and Sunderland. Only those teams have conceded goals more often than Liverpool too. It is pretty unsavoury company to keep.

It’s easy to blame the central defence – and Skrtel is deservingly taking his turn under the microscope – but this is also a question of defensive organisation. It is not that Liverpool are useless, for they have allowed the second fewest shots and shots on target in the Premier League, more that they have left themselves exposed at set-pieces and in open play. Conceding 40 goals from 96 shots on target demonstrates firstly how clear-cut those chances are, and secondly that Mignolet must improve if he is to keep his place.

It also indicates that Klopp needs to find the right type of pressing midfielders to fit his system. With full-backs pushing on, it is those pressers that determine the success of Klopp’s strategy. Should they fail, Liverpool suddenly look extremely exposed. Much work to do over the summer.

http://www.football365.com/news/premier-league-winners-and-losers-27

[Slinky Skills]

Enrique is an insult to peripheral figures.

[Bender]

Klopp: "Firmino is close. Both he and Lucas are in a good way and improving. But I can’t say at this stage when they will be ready.
"Moreno is fine now. He trained this morning and he’s looking good."

[Buzzo]

Enrique is an insult to peripheral figures.

[danperkins]

Skrtel is one of the main reason but not the only reason. We retreat into a shell when the opposition midfield and strikers start playing aggressively. We have no clue on how to handle the heat, take the pressure, slowly claw our way back into the game. When Wanyama started bossing our midfield and Mane started making aggressive runs, we panicked and lost it completely. Even if we had scored 4 goals in the first half, I think Southampton could have gotten a draw. Excerpt from football365:

There are no prizes for guessing where Liverpool’s problems lie. Klopp may wish to add one attacking player to his armoury, but Coutinho and Roberto Firmino at least provide a basis around which recruitment can be focused. Behind them, there is no obvious banker. Liverpool’s defensive structure is comprised of players who are either not quite, not quite anymore or not quite yet.

Liverpool have now conceded three or more in a Premier League game six times this season, a total ‘beaten’ only by Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Norwich and Sunderland. Only those teams have conceded goals more often than Liverpool too. It is pretty unsavoury company to keep.

It’s easy to blame the central defence – and Skrtel is deservingly taking his turn under the microscope – but this is also a question of defensive organisation. It is not that Liverpool are useless, for they have allowed the second fewest shots and shots on target in the Premier League, more that they have left themselves exposed at set-pieces and in open play. Conceding 40 goals from 96 shots on target demonstrates firstly how clear-cut those chances are, and secondly that Mignolet must improve if he is to keep his place.

It also indicates that Klopp needs to find the right type of pressing midfielders to fit his system. With full-backs pushing on, it is those pressers that determine the success of Klopp’s strategy. Should they fail, Liverpool suddenly look extremely exposed. Much work to do over the summer.

http://www.football365.com/news/prem...-and-losers-27

[danperkins]

The squad clearly isn't as bad as Dan is suggesting. Suggesting Phil Coutinho is the only player worth keeping is a bit of a 'toys out of pram' over reaction to a performance that was knee capped by the introduction of the hapless Slovak.

wind it up pal. I never said they were all bad, just said I couldn't give a **** if any of them left.

[peekay]

Enrique is an insult to peripheral figures.

[baitman]

klopp has only taken enrique with the lads so he con do some interpreting if needed.

[Vermilion]

Enrique is an insult to peripheral figures.

[Phoenix07]

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool will fly back from America to take part in a Europa League qualifier this summer if they are required to.

The Reds are set to take part in the annual International Champions Cup as part of their pre-season preparations.

Klopp will base his team in California and they will face Premier League rivals Chelsea in Pasadena and Serie A giants AC Milan in Santa Clara during late July, report the Liverpool Echo.

However, those showpiece friendlies could yet be sandwiched by a Europa League qualifying tie.

Liverpool currently sit ninth in the Premier League but are only seven points adrift of fourth placed Manchester City with a game in hand.

A top-four finish or winning the Europa League would secure Champions League qualification and alleviate any fears of a clash with the America tour.

Fifth spot in the Premier League guarantees passage to the Europa League group stage but if Liverpool qualify for Europe by finishing sixth or seventh they face the prospect of entering at the third qualifying round.

The first leg is scheduled to take place on July 28 – less than 24 hours after the game against Chelsea – with the second leg on August 4.

Klopp says that contingency plans have already been drawn up with Liverpool fully committed to fulfilling all the matches.

If there is a clash then the Reds boss would split his squad – with half staying in America to face Chelsea while the other half return to Europe before rejoining the tour.

“I am really happy with the plan,” Klopp told the ECHO from the club’s warm weather training camp in Tenerife.

“It’s complicated of course because we don’t know yet about Europe and whether there are any qualifiers.

“But in the end we had to make a decision. And the decision is that if we are in these qualifiers then we will have to fly back from the USA.

“It’s a long flight but we can’t change this. If we have to fly back – no problem.”

Only the team finishing fifth in the Premier League automatically qualifies for the Europa League.

But Manchester City’s spot as winners of the Capital One Cup will be passed down to sixth place as long as they finish in the top five.

Seventh place would also get into Europe if either West Ham or Manchester United win the FA Cup and also finish in the top six.

Only two of England’s three Europa League spots offer a place directly into the group stage.

Exactly what personnel Klopp will have to call upon for the tour and a potential European tie is unclear with a host of international stars set to return to club duty at various stages in pre-season.

As well as the European Championships, which take place between June 10 and July 10, Liverpool will also have players away at the Copa America (June 3 to June 26) and the Olympics (August 4 to August 20).

“We will have to wait and see who is available as there are so many other tournaments,” Klopp said.

“The only thing we could do is make a plan for pre-season and that’s what we have done.

“We don’t know yet exactly who will be involved in the European Championships. Then we have the Olympics and the Copa America. So many different tournaments and we know nothing yet about which of our players will be there. That’s a problem.

“We made a plan for us and then we will need to react as things happen. That’s the only thing we could do.

“It’s not too easy to make a plan like this. But now we’ve made it, we feel good.

“If we have to play in a qualifier then we will fly back with a team. With which team? I don’t know in this moment.”

Klopp has been in regular dialogue with the Anfield hierarchy over the organisation of the tour and is delighted with what’s been put in place.

He took advice from USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann before deciding on the venue for their California training camp.

Top class opposition await with games against Chelsea and AC Milan in America before the Reds’ final International Champions Cup match against Barcelona in Europe on August 6.

The ECHO understands Liverpool are also likely to play a third tour game in the US. That’s expected to be a stop off on the East Coast on the journey home and will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

“I am really happy with the camp,” Klopp said.

“We spoke about this with all the responsible guys at the club. This is a very important training camp for us ahead of the new season.

“It’s not too long - 11 or 12 days – and we will train all the time. The training is the main thing and then we have the games in America. I am only interested in training in the pre-season.

“I spoke to Jurgen Klinsmann and asked about the area where we are going. He was really positive so I am really looking forward to it.

“At the start of the camp in the USA, the first players coming back from the European Championships will join us. They will be with us so we’ll have a very big group.

“At the start of the pre-season we will have a group with a lot of very young players and then step by step the rest of the players will join us over those following weeks.

“It’s really good to play matches against these big names, good teams. There will be no problem with motivation.

“All these teams have the same situation as us with a lot of players at the European Championships and other tournaments.

“But it’s very important to play real football in pre-season and go up against opponents who give their all. That’s good for us. I’m fine with it.”

The first pre-season of Klopp’s Liverpool reign will be crucial as he finally gets the opportunity to work with his squad on the training ground over an extended period.

Since coming into the job last October, he hasn’t had that luxury with the Reds facing such a gruelling run of fixtures.

However, the summer international tournaments with so many players away will make life more difficult as Klopp bids to ensure the Reds hit the ground running next term.

“Pre-season will be very important but it would be even more important if we could have all the players together,” he added.

“We will have a lot of players at the European Championships. It’s about training together and if the players aren’t there then it’s not the same but that’s how it is. Let’s wait and see how many are there.

“All the time we get in pre-season with all the players together we will use well for sure. Any time is better than no time together.

“We can’t change this. It’s how it is in top class football – you have a lot of players who play for national teams.

"We can’t change the world.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...errupt-7625395

[Norbs]

I'd rather we binned Europe for a year and went on a crazy title bid like in 2013