Liverpool midfielder Emre Can says Jurgen Klopp has no intention of changing things up, despite the team winning just one game in six ahead of Saturday’s tie with Manchester United.
In fact, our boss believes we just need a bit of luck to get ourselves back on winning ways.
And when you look at the statistics behind our recent games, he probably has a point.
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We battered Sevilla, Burnley, Spartak Moscow and Newcastle without finishing our chances – and nine times out ten we’d have converted all four of those draws into wins – playing the same style with the same XI on the field.
Can holds this belief, too.
“I read a statistic that we had over 120 shots in the past seven games and scored seven goals. This is clearly not enough,” he told German newspaper Bild.
“It is definitely a fact that we have defended badly and conceded too many goals.
“However, I believe that if we were scoring the goals that we should have been this would not have mattered so much and that we would have won more games.
“So it is not just about the defensive side of things and we cannot point only that way.”
The German went on to stick up for his countryman and claim that Klopp’s not been angry with the squad for the poor set of results.
“The criticism on Jurgen Klopp has increased but the coach does not question anyone,” he added.
“He is convinced that only the necessary bit of luck is missing to return to really good success.
“The coach himself says we are not playing badly and we almost always dominated the opponents in all games so far and were the better team.
“We as a team want to work with him and we play a good football, as he wants us to play. Jurgen Klopp is a top-top coach. Klopp is a top-top trainer.”
Can himself is likely in his final season at Anfield, as he hasn’t extended his contract and doesn’t look like doing so, either.
In January, any side from Europe can freely offer him a Bosman contract, which means he’ll sign on a free transfer in the summer.
It’s going to be a travesty to lose the 23-year-old for nothing, considering his likely market value if he had time on his contract, but that’s football.
Thankfully, Naby Keita is coming in who is not only a replacement, but a direct upgrade.