Jurgen Klopp insists nothing has changed in his mentality and desire since he announced his upcoming departure from the club last week – but acknowledges Liverpool might have to win every single game to end Manchester City’s monopoly on the Premier League.
The European champions have won the last three league titles and are fighting to become the first side ever to claim four English championships in a row. And after Liverpool were pipped by Pep Guardiola’s side by one point to two triumphs, Klopp knows his side must be near-perfect.
‘Of course I want to win the league,’ said the Reds boss. ‘Do I know if we have a chance, really? Because it looks like we can be around it but there are so many games (16) between now and then. We have to play them all and we have to win them all, which is absolutely crazy.
‘I just cannot think about it. I am not a dreamer. But if you ask me if it would be nice then, yes, very nice for everybody involved and the whole Liverpool world. But it’s not difficult to block out (noise around his exit), because it is no different to other years before.
‘If it can generate a few extra per cent it would be good but I’m not sure that’s needed because we are already at 100 per cent and that is fine.’ Klopp earlier talked of his pride that his side are top of the hardest league in the world.
He also said there is not one bad player in his squad – and that they are all good looking! They are certainly looking good in the title race at least, five points ahead of City and Arsenal before the trip to north London on Sunday, when they can move eight clear of the Gunners with a win.
But Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of 11-goal striker Darwin Nunez, who left Anfield in a protective boot after Wednesday’s win over Chelsea. ‘I don’t know if Darwin will be available or not because after 20 minutes, someone stepped on his foot,’ said Klopp.
‘It was very painful after the game. He only took his (football) boot off after the game because he didn’t want to see it before. He knew there was something. He left the stadium in a boot and it was not a football boot. Nothing broken, X-ray clear but swollen.
We have to see if he can get his foot back in a football boot or not. That takes time. I didn’t see him this morning so we have to wait a little bit. But going through this game with the pain he had, that shows so much more (about his mentality).’
