Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Grumpy Jurgen Klopp takes umbrage at BT Sport as he states main Liverpool target

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp brought up a familiar complaint when addressing the upcoming Liverpool schedule, and stated what he wants his side to get back to on the pitch.

Liverpool have no time to mull over their 2-2 draw with Manchester City with other competitions now taking centre stage. Indeed, the Reds must complete the job in the Champions League on Wednesday when bringing a 3-1 quarter-final lead over Benfica to Anfield.

Once that match is consigned to the history books, Man City await at Wembley in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

And speaking in his Tuesday press conference, Jurgen Klopp insisted his side aren’t looking towards Man City until they’ve dealt with Benfica.

“The next game has no influence on the line-up for tomorrow but the last game has,” said Klopp (via the Liverpool Echo). “Super intense schedule.

“No-one injured as far as I know but we need to look at who is freshest. A super important game. We tried to so hard to get Champions League and now we can make it to the semis. It means a lot to us.”

When pressed for his thoughts on facing Benfica, Klopp laid down the gauntlet to their Portuguese opponents. In doing so, he revealed Liverpool’s main on-field target is to get back to being the team no one wants to play against.

Klopp calls for Liverpool aggression

“We were good against Benfica, I liked it,” added Klopp.

“The main target again is being the one team no-one wants to play. Really aggressive in a football sense, defending well, we know more how they play.

“They wanted to isolate Darwin [Nunez] with [Ibrahima] Konate. Speed with Rafa Silva…a lot to do.

“It’s 3-1 at half time, it’s as tricky as 2-0. A good basis, but if they score one – like we felt against Inter – the game changes.

“We felt it when they scored last week. We really need to make them feel this is a place they don’t want to go.”

The fixtures are coming thick and fast at present, though that is an inevitability of going deep into multiple competitions.

BT Sport gripe dredged up

However, Liverpool have been scheduled to face Newcastle in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday, April 30. That means the Reds will compete in the weekend’s first league fixture following a potential Champions League semi-final first leg in midweek.

Klopp has spoken out against his side being picked by BT Sport for the early kick-off following a European excursion the midweek prior. He did so again today.

“The fixture list we have now, we have to get through,” added Klopp. “I am only concerned about Benfica now.

“Then City Saturday. [Manchester] United, Everton and maybe a semi. BT Sport and the Premier League gave us Newcastle 12.30pm kick-off.

“People want to see us on TV as we’re hot, I couldn’t care less.”

On the subject of utilising five substitutions as is allowed in Europe, Klopp admitted: “We have to make these (five) changes.

“We have to keep our performance level up and that is only possible (with the subs). We’ve had 50 games in our legs in April.”