Liverpool boss refuses to blame tiredness for poor form – ‘We were fit, we were fresh’

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly complained about the intensive fixture list English football has presented him, but he’s not going to use it as an excuse for his players, reports the official website.

Our defeat to West Ham on January 2 was our third in six Premier League games under the German, who was furious with his players for their shoddy performance at Upton Park on Saturday.

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The squad capitulated after an early Hammers goal, showing no fight, passion or character – which was stupidly timed for some of them – considering we’re just entering the January transfer window.

“If they want. I think we have done it until now,” Klopp said, when asked if the current squad could rectify its problems.

“I don’t want talk about the intensity of the moment in the situation because we were fit, we were fresh. There was no problem with running, no problem with fighting.

“I know about the situation but today it was only about the wrong start again in the game and we have to change this so we won’t see games like this.

“Sometimes it’s bad luck but sometimes because we were not clear enough in our idea. Today is like a summary of our problems.

“Why do we have to concede goals like this? It’s really not necessary. And if [we do] then react please!

“React, make the one goal, open the game. We fight, but only because the game woke us up and that’s not how it should be.”

Yet again, Klopp sums it perfectly – although we hope he can now get the message across to his players. One goal against us and his team look petrified, unable to turn it around. They’re letting physical sides get on top of them and look clueless when the opposition sits deep.

Our best performances have come against ‘better’ sides who defend high and look to play out, but the majority of our games will be against teams who firstly look not to concede. Klopp will know this of course and will do everything in his power on the training ground to equip the players with more creative ideas and a more ruthless spirit.

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