Jurgen Klopp says he understands how Liverpool’s results this calendar year might have led to some doubts over his capabilities. But the Reds boss feels the majority of the club’s fanbase are in agreement that a crippling injury crisis and a lack of supporters inside Anfield are the big factors behind a disastrous run of post-Christmas form.
Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s easy to believe when it is going well but in this moment, how I said, I cannot really tell the people at the moment what they should think. At that time when I said [turning doubters intro believers], it was not my decision if the people wanted to follow it or not. If you want to doubt [the coaching staff] and not the team, if you want to doubt me in this moment, then I think that is possible because of the results we got. In my understanding, if you are really with us, you judge our situation right and you see that this is a really difficult year where unity could be shown in an even more special kind. And I am pretty sure that if our stadium was full at the moment the majority of people would like the game and when we lose then the next game they would be there, full of belief, full of positivity and full of optimism because they know these boys didn’t change, the situation changed, dramatically. The reason for our situation is the injuries we have had, definitely. But last night we had a really good team on the pitch against another really good team and you can always lose those kinds of games, that is clear. In decisive moments, you have to be better than them but we were not last night. It doesn’t say a lot about our players in general. It says a lot about the situation but not about or boys in general. Again if someone wants to doubt us, I can’t change that obviously, but if someone wants to wish us well again and in the future then he or she is welcome.”
Liverpool will return to action on Sunday afternoon when they entertain Fulham.