Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool team ‘won’t join fans’ party’ despite extending lead with win over Manchester United
League leaders went 16 points clear after seeing off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men at Anfield
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp insists he and his team will not get drawn into the party that Liverpool fans are enjoying on their seemingly inevitable march towards a first title in 30 years.
A 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday put the Reds 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a match in hand, leaving supporters singing: ”We’re going to win the league.”
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah scored the goals against their closest enemies to make it 21 wins from 22 matches, with the only two points dropped this season coming at Old Trafford in October.
“They can sing whatever they want - if our fans wouldn’t be in a good mood now, it would be really strange,” Klopp said of the celebrations.
“They are allowed to dream, to sing whatever they want as long as they do their job as well in the moment when we play.
“We will not be part of that party yet, but it’s no problem. We know our job. We are here to work, as simple as that.
“It’s a very positive atmosphere, but I have to keep myself in and stay concentrated in interviews as we play on Thursday against Wolves. That’s the truth, I’m only interested in that game and nothing else.”
While things continue on an upward curve for the Merseysiders, they are getting worse for United as they are set to be without leading scorer Marcus Rashford for at least six weeks after the striker was ruled out with a stress fracture of his back.
“He’s suffered a bad injury, it’s a stress fracture,” said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“It happened against Wolverhampton [on Wednesday] and it is not something that has happened before.
“I don’t know how long he will be out for. We will give him enough time to heal, of course.
“Normally it’s six weeks before you can get going slightly, probably, and then he’ll need time to get match-fit again. We’ve had many injuries to big players this season, it’s just an unfortunate position that we are in.
“The window is open and it might be that we look at something for the short term.
“We are not desperately looking. We are looking at numbers and if the right one is there for us then something might be possible.”
Rashford, 22, has 19 goals in all competitions this season, and the next fixture he will miss is Wednesday’s trip to Burnley.
PA
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