Jürgen Klopp has claimed Liverpool are not “500 miles” behind Manchester City but have yet to show the ruthlessness of Pep Guardiola’s league leaders.
Liverpool recorded the biggest away win in their European history in midweek when they defeated Maribor 7-0 in the Champions League. That demolition was in stark contrast to recent Premier League performances when Klopp’s team, who visit Tottenham Hotspur , have struggled to turn dominant displays into maximum points. They have scored an average of 1.6 goals per Premier League game this season compared with City’s remarkable 3.6 per game.
Five of City’s 29 league goals came against 10-man Liverpool on 9 September, a result that Klopp admits had a lasting impact on his players. But the Liverpool manager insists the team’s overall performances this season demonstrate they are “still in the race”.
Klopp said: “I don’t compare City with us but I think everyone can see we are not 500 miles away. But they fly. It was a very decisive day when we lost 5-0. Dealing with a 5-0 defeat is not the easiest thing. We didn’t lose confidence but we were not that fluent afterwards and it was not like we could close our eyes and finish [thinking about it]. They did exactly the opposite. I saw the Stoke goals, you see the shot from Fernandinho and you think: ‘If it works, it works even like this.’ They are a fantastic team and we don’t have to compare, but it starts so early again with us having to apologise for the season so far because one team is flying.”
The Liverpool manager admits City were “good in the transfer market, they probably did exactly what they had to do”, but believes their outstanding form in front of goal stems from keeping their strike-force intact during the summer.
He added: “Their way of football I would say is not something we are too far away from but to be as clinical as they have been so far? We weren’t.
“That’s the thing. We are still in the race, not with City in the moment because they have I don’t how many points, and I don’t say already that we should only fight for a top-four place. Performance-wise we are a team that should be there but now we have to get the results.
“We can make steps. From a very good season last year, we can make steps this year. Position-wise I think it should be possible but it is difficult with the few points we have given away. It is a long season. If we can bring in consistency and be more ruthless, be more clinical in situations because of confidence and all that stuff, then we can win games. I would say a lot of games. In the end we will see where it leads us but again it could be a good basis to build on for the next year.
Spartak Moscow punished for racist behaviour towards Liverpool player
Spartak Moscow have been hit with a partial stadium closure by Uefa for “racist behaviour” towards Liverpool striker Bobby Adekanye during last month’s Youth League match.
A section of the Russian club’s fans directed monkey chants at the 18-year-old attacker in the 2-1 defeat suffered by Steven Gerrard’s side at Spartak’s academy on 26 September.
Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB) upheld Liverpool’s subsequent complaint and a section of Spartak’s stadium will be closed for their next home game in Europe.
A Uefa statement read: “The CEDB has decided to order the partial closure of the FC Spartak Moskva Stadium during the next Uefa competition match in which FC Spartak Moskva would play as the host team. FC Spartak Moskva shall inform at least seven days prior to the match, the sector(s) to be closed, which shall at least comprehend 500 seats.”
Spartak have been directed to “display a banner with the wording ‘EqualGame’, with the Uefa logo on it” in the section closed to supporters. The Russian champions have also been fined 33,000 euros for holding up a ‘Uefa Mafia’ banner, setting off fireworks and blocking stairways during their Champions League clash at home to Liverpool last month.