JURGEN KLOPP admits he still gets “uncomfortable” despite Liverpool’s dominance in the Premier League.
That is because he is never sure when their incredible unbeaten run will end.
Liverpool appear to be cruising towards the Prem title with 17 wins in 18 gamesCredit: Reuters
With Klopp’s men on course for the title, it is now possible they could emulate Arsenal’s 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ season.
Liverpool have not lost in the league since January 3 — a run of 35 games.
They could make it 12 months without losing and then it is a case of whether they carry it on throughout the season.
Kop boss Klopp, 52, said: “I’m a while in the business and if you ask me if that is possible, I am not sure.
“I am a very optimistic person — but not before a football game.
“I know we can win but I’ve never thought we probably will win it, which makes life really uncomfortable.
“At Dortmund, we had 28 I think, already it is absolutely exceptional.
“But only in the review. That’s it, only in that situation really.
“I am blessed I have a very smart team. It is not like I have to tell them to stay focused, because they are.
“We have so many good characters in the team, there is nobody who is flying.
“A colleague asked me what I feel when the boys step out on the pitch, do I see this sort of swagger?
“Unfortunately, I can’t see anything. That’s because I’m concerned with all the things of the game.”
Klopp’s side face Wolves tomorrow with Bobby Firmino in form again with four goals in his last three games, including the winner in the Club World Cup final against Flamengo.
But the Brazilian had found goals hard to come by before that.
And he could not resist hugging his manager at Leicester for keeping faith with him after another two goals in their impressive 4-0 victory.
Firmino, 28, had been worried by a run of only one goal in 16 games.
German Klopp added: “He doesn’t have to come and do that after every goal but this time he thought I was calm enough to leave him on in these games and he thought he has to say thank you.
“Bobby has four goals in three games and before that he didn’t score that often. But when people tell me ‘Bobby didn’t score for a while’ I didn’t realise.
“When I think about Bobby, I don’t think about scoring. I think about how important he is.
MOST TOP-FLIGHT POINTS AFTER 19 LEAGUE GAMES
- Man City – 52 – 2017/18
- Liverpool – 52 – 2019/20
- Tottenham – 49 – 1960/61 (Converted to 3pts for a win)
- Chelsea – 49 – 2005/06
- Preston – 48 – 1888/89 (Converted to 3pts for a win)
- Liverpool – 48 – 2018/19
“But we had a bit of a talk because for the first time since I knew him he looked a little bit concerned about that fact. I told him I am not interested in that number because he is the connecter for our team.
“He is so important for us. He is not the only one who can play that position but he can play that position in a very special way.”
Liverpool managed to keep Leicester striker Jamie Vardy quiet on Boxing Day but Klopp believes Wolves winger Adama Traore could be an even tougher proposition at Anfield on Sunday.
Klopp has noted 23-year-old Traore’s progress from when he was at Barcelona as a youngster.
He said: “Everyone knew him, of course. At Middlesbrough, he was exceptional, but somebody had to give him the right information. He has a big talent and he’s still very young.
“Now he’s found it. Everybody was sure it would happen and now it has. Good for Wolves. It makes things really dangerous.
“In a big space Jamie Vardy is difficult to defend but I’d say Traore is more so because his speed is exceptional.”
LEIC ISN’T ALWAYS MORE
Meanwhile, Reds centre-back Virgil van Dijk admitted the team were never going to suffer a hangover from the Club World Cup in Doha against the high-flying Foxes.
The Dutchman, 28, said: “Most of the players are used to playing every three days.
“We travelled back on Sunday morning, I don’t think any of us made it late after the game anyway, so we had treatment on the plane.
“We had three full days to prepare for Leicester, everyone was ready to go, we didn’t need to be extra motivated for this game. We knew how big it was and we played very well. They had a game plan and set up the same as they did at Anfield.
“It worked pretty well, so they might have thought they’d do the same.
“They tried to isolate me but it didn’t work out too well for them.
“Now we have the opportunity to get ready for Wolves and that’s going to be a completely different game again.
“It’ll be tough and, hopefully, we’ll be at our best. It’s not always possible. But it’s all about winning games and to keep doing it.”
Van Dijk laughed off any attempt to admit the European champions are now coasting to the Premiere League title.
He added: “You guys have to talk about it — you do the talking and we’ll focus on the game ahead of us.
“We can’t say too much about it, we’ll give the same answers every time.”
Jurgen Klopp jokes with Gabby Logan about questions on Liverpool already winning the league
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
