LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Manchester United have "unbelievable quality" despite their struggles this season, playing down his own team's growing injury problems ahead of Sunday's (Dec 16) Premier League clash.
Liverpool are top of the Premier League heading into the weekend fixtures, 16 points ahead of Jose Mourinho's side, but the Klopp is taking nothing for granted.
"I was never interested in the points of Manchester United and I am not today," he said on Friday.
"I am aware of the criticism and stuff but when we analyse them and switch off the sound there is a lot of quality.
"There is speed, technique, physical strength, pretty much everything. They still have (David) de Gea in goal, unbelievable. They have strikers they can switch between (Marcus) Rashford, (Romelu) Lukaku, (Jesse) Lingard, (Anthony) Martial, unbelievable quality."
Mourinho has been wrestling with the problem of how to get the best out of midfielder Paul Pogba, who has not been in the starting line-up for the past two Premier League matches.
Klopp was asked whether he thought United were better with or without the World Cup winner but said he would not comment beyond calling him a "world-class player".
He said he is unlikely to make a move during the January transfer window after insisting his mounting injury problems in defence are not a crisis.
Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (foot) and Joel Matip (broken collarbone) this week joined Joe Gomez (broken leg) on the injury list.
Midfielder James Milner played at right-back recently and Nathaniel Clyne has returned to fitness but has barely featured since the beginning of last season.
Klopp admits he may have to get creative but that is unlikely to involve spending in January.
"A crisis is if you feel it is a crisis," he said. "With Trent, it's not as serious as with the other two boys, but of course it's not top-class news, that's clear."
A back problem restricted Clyne to just five appearances in the final few weeks of last season and his injury issues have continued into the current campaign but his return to full training is timely.
"Clyne is a very experienced player," said Klopp.
"Is it perfect? No. But is he experienced enough to do it? Yes, 100 per cent.
"We have other options so we will not push Clyney after not the longest spell of training.
"As long as we have options everything is fine. If we don't have the obvious option any more then we need to be creative."
With Silva, Portugal no more just the Ronaldo show Straits Times · 1d PORTO * Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his international exile to spearhead Portugal's hopes of winning the inaugural Nations League at home this weekend, but gone are the days when he was the European champions' only man to fear.
Nations League: More than just Cristiano Ronaldo! Portugal
Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Mohamed Salah abuse ahead of Chelsea clash Description: Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, who played for Chelsea before joining Roma in 2016, is a practising Muslim and has previously faced abuse about his religion.
Liverpool's Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Salah abuse ahead of
We look for answers everywhere but within ourselves, for this is what we know how to do, this is what we were taught, this is what we were raised to believe. We spend most of our time looking outside ourselves for all the answers to our questions, not understanding that we already possess within ourselves all that we need.
Learning To Trust Yourself Is More Important Than Trusting
Barcelona put one hand on La Liga title after edging past Sociedad Barca lead the standings on 77 points after 33 games, comfortably clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid who won 1-0 at
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad
Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and a 2-1 victory over Southampton to Emiliano Sala after an emotional match for the Welsh club. Saturday's fixtures were the first round of
Cardiff players afraid to fly after Emiliano Sala tragedy
What Man United's draw with Huddersfield means for Arsenal, Chelsea & Tottenham in top-four race. How the battle for the top four looks after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United drew with bottom side Huddersfield Town
Man Utd miss out on top four after draw at Huddersfield
May 21, 2019 · Destination: Football - Expedia Group Football Travel Trends Study Reveals Two Thirds of Travellers Plan Holidays Around Sporting Events PR Newswire LONDON, May 21, 2019 - A huge 68 percent of
Expedia Group Study Reveals 9 in 10 Indian Football Fans Plan
Marcus Rashford is an English professional footballer. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.
90min - Marcus Rashford In The Form Of His Life! | Facebook
Barcelona's defence were completely caught out by Divock Origi's winner as Liverpool went through 4-3 on aggregate Barcelona striker Luis Suarez said his side "looked like schoolboys" for
Luis Suarez says Barcelona 'looked like schoolboys' defending
Mauricio Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Pep Guardiola's Champions League bid Description: Aware of the harsh prism through which his European record is viewed, Guardiola went on the defensive when asked on Tuesday if he had extra motivation to win the competition again.
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League
Football: Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas is I-League's best
Jurgen Klopp has called on his players to focus on Premier League game with Wolves. Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool players needed hammer to 'punch the smile' off their faces after Barcelona win.
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool players needed hammer to 'punch
0 comments:
Post a Comment