Liverpool boss Klopp dismisses ‘soft touch’ notion

Jurgen Klopp: Vocal on the sidelines

Jurgen Klopp: Vocal on the sidelines

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed claims his players are a soft touch and easily intimidated on the pitch.

Monday’s 3-1 defeat at Leicester saw the Reds out-fought and out-thought in every department and again raised questions about the strength – both mental and physical – to maintain a top-four challenge over the course of a season.

The Foxes’ in-your-face approach – typified by Jamie Vardy’s crunching first-minute tackle on Sadio Mane – appeared to take Liverpool’s players by surprise despite having 16 days in which to prepare.

It was their fifth league defeat of the campaign, all of which have come against sides in the bottom half of the table, and opened up the players to suggestions they do not have the stomach for a fight.

However, Klopp disagreed, saying: “I think we are usually clean – not ugly challenges – but physical. It is not a general problem for us.

“Sometimes you need tactical fouls but being harder than allowed I don’t think it makes sense. I never force my players to make fouls.

“We are always a pretty fair team as even in a challenge we want to keep the ball and not break a leg.

“Being physical means being ready to hurt yourself not the other player.”

Liverpool are unlikely to have any such problems this weekend for the visit of Arsenal, a side who like to play football and will give their hosts more freedom than many teams who have visited Anfield this season.

Their meeting on the opening day of the season at the Emirates Stadium was a thrilling encounter which Klopp’s side edged 4-3, but the manager admits his mood has changed significantly since, with just two wins in 12 matches in all competitions since the turn of the year.

“It doesn’t feel that free-flowing any more. We have this lack of consistency, we cannot ignore it,” he added.

There have been many suggestions as to why Liverpool’s form has dropped off so dramatically since New Year’s Eve, when a win over Manchester City left them three points behind leaders Chelsea, with a lack of leaders one of them.

“When I was involved as a player I was a real mentality player and my strength was pushing a few team-mates, but for me it was not always possible,” said Klopp.

“We have players who do it in different ways. Adam (Lallana), Milly (James Milner), Lucas Leiva are three players for sure.

“When you play bad this question always comes up but when you win no-one asks ‘Who pushes the team?’. That was not the reason for not performing (at Leicester).”