Liverpool vs Leicester City: Jurgen Klopp challenges Reds to hit high standards set against the champions consistently
Liverpool 4-1 Leicester City: Claudio Ranieri was critical of his players for losing their composure
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Your support makes all the difference.Jürgen Klopp has challenged his Liverpool team to consistently meet the standard set by the performance during their 4-1 dismantling of Premier League champions Leicester City for the rest of the season.
Roberto Firmino’s double plus goals from Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana pushed Liverpool into fifth position on goal difference following the first game played in front of Anfield’s new main stand.
Klopp, who curiously reacted to Liverpool supporters chanting his name by making hand signals for them to stop when the scoreline was 3-1, revealed later that he believes any triumphalism sends out the wrong message to his players.
“We have to show this and perform and have atmospheres like this not only against the champions,” he said. “But please don’t sing my name before the game is decided. I don’t play. It was the same at Arsenal. It is nice but not necessary.”
Though there was a sense that Liverpool were in control, Klopp’s feelings are understandable because a feeling remains that his is not a team to always trust. At 2-0, Liverpool handed the incentive back to Leicester when Lucas’s wayward clearance left Jamie Vardy with the simple task of scoring in front of an open goal.
“We knew we had to do the job today and that is what we did,” Klopp added. “We were strong physically, flexible, quick and creative. We scored wonderful goals and conceded a not too wonderful goal and had a few minutes where you saw what can happen in a football game. West Ham was 2-0 in the lead and lost today so things like this can happen, not only here. At half time I told the boys, this is our challenge. When we are good, we are really good but when we had some problems, it is not easy. This is challenge for the whole season.”
The result means Leicester have now lost twice in four games this season. Claudio Ranieri, Leicester’s manager, was critical of his players’ poise on a historic day at Anfield.
“You know when you lose some players [to injury] you lose also your composure but it is not only one or two players. We want to do something but Liverpool won the first ball, the second hall they were inspired tonight. Everything they tried to do was okay and it was difficult for us. We have to clean our mind. Fortunately, now we play every three days. There is an important adventure in the Champions League.”
They travel to Belgium to play Club Brugge on Wednesday.
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