We’ll Learn From Defeat - Klopp

We’ll Learn From Defeat - Klopp

Adeboye   19:41:00   No comments:

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool’s defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League final is “hard” to take but vowed his side will learn from it.

The German insisted he will take the team to another final and, when he does, his five successive losses will mean nothing.

The Reds 3-1 defeat in Basel, after taking a half-time lead, was Klopp’s second failed final with his new club in three months but the Liverpool manager does not want any sympathy.

“There are more important things in life than football. I don’t think God had a plan with me to go to the final and always have bad luck,” he said.

“I’ve had a lot of luck in my life. I sit here as manager of Liverpool. I don’t think I am an unlucky person or life has not been good to me.

“I will carry on and I will be in another final – and you’ll tell me I lost the last five finals. I will try to reach the next final even when I know I can lose it.

“There are bigger problems in life but at this moment it doesn’t feel like it, it is really hard.”

Sevilla, who had won both the 2014 and 2015 trophies, flipped the game on its head in the second half and secured a third successive title after two goals from Coke and one from Kevin Gameiro.

Klopp said Coke’s first goal, just seconds into the second half, had a “big influence” on Liverpool’s game and says his players must learn to react better to conceding.

“At this moment we lost faith in our style of play, we changed from passing quick and simple to complicated, and lost our formation,” he said.

“It was not compact any more. I tried to change it, but you could see that maybe the team was shocked, maybe the crowd was shocked.

“It is not good to concede a goal straight after half-time but you have 44 minutes to strike back and the reaction was the problem. We have to learn to react better in situations like this.

“We are disappointed and frustrated 100 per cent, but tomorrow or later in the week we will see it a little bit more clearly and we will use this experience – that is what we have to do.”

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Benteke Seeks Talks With Klopp To Find Out Liverpool Future

Benteke Seeks Talks With Klopp To Find Out Liverpool Future

Adeboye   13:03:00   No comments:

Striker Christian Benteke will talk to manager Juergen Klopp to find out if he has a future at Liverpool after enduring a difficult first season with the English Premier League side.

The Belgian played second fiddle to forwards Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi for most of the campaign since his 32.5 million pounds ($47.31 million) move from Aston Villa in the close season under former boss Brendan Rodgers.

Klopp has preferred starting attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino up front when Sturridge and Origi were out injured, pushing Benteke further down the pecking order at Anfield.

“I signed for five years, I didn’t sign for one year, and now I have to speak with the manager and see his plans for next season. It has been a tough (first season),” Benteke told British media.

“I knew Liverpool is a massive club with a lot of pressure and a lot of good players, and it has not been easy (to settle in). But I keep going and never doubt myself. I’m now going to focus on the Euros and see what happens next season.”

The 25-year-old made 15 out of his 29 league appearances from the bench and scored 10 goals, several of them crucial.

“It was not my best season, I know that, but the goals I scored (did not make it) 5-0 or 4-0,” he said.

“It’s not that I’m happy with that – it could be more but I want to look forward.”

Benteke was named in Belgium’s 24-man squad last week for the European Championship in France in June, where they play Italy, Ireland and Sweden in the group stages, reports Reuters.

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Europa League: More Final Misery For Klopp

Europa League: More Final Misery For Klopp

Adeboye   07:56:00   No comments:

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp collected his fifth successive losers medal after the Reds’ 3-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

Liverpool had been hoping to end their 15-year wait for Europa League glory having last won the competition, as the UEFA Cup, in a nine-goal thriller against Deportivo Alaves in 2001.

But a second-half fightback on Wednesday saw Spanish midfielder Coke hit a brace in the space of six minutes to help Sevilla to their third consecutive and fifth trophy overall from Europe’s second-tier competition.

It means five-time European champions Liverpool have not won a European trophy since their stunning comeback victory over AC Milan in the final of the Champions League in 2005, reports AFP.

Klopp, meanwhile, now has a fifth successive losers medal from his past five finals, the last of which came in February when Liverpool lost the League Cup final on penalties to Manchester City.

In Klopp’s last match as manager of Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in the German Cup final — the second successive setback in the competition after an extra-time defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2014 final.

But the defeat that arguably hurt the Liverpool manager most came against Bayern in the all-German final of the Champions League in 2013 when Arjen Robben hit a late winner for the Bavarian giants.

“I promise everybody we will use it (Wednesday’s loss) and come back stronger. It was 50-60% of our usual quality and we have to accept that. We will come back,” said Klopp after the game.

Meanwhile, Klopp admitted his team became nervous after they lost the Europa league final 3-1 to Sevilla on Wednesday.

Daniel Sturridge scored a fine goal to put the English side ahead in the first half but Sevilla equalised seconds after the interval and ran out comfortable winners to win Europe’s second-tier club competition for the third year in a row.

“We had our chance, 1-0 at halftime is usually good,” Klopp said.

“Their first goal was not really a problem but we lost faith in our style of play. Didn’t defend well. Nervous.”

Defeat meant Liverpool will not play in European competition next season after finishing eighth in the Premier League.

“We have to use this experience in the right way. But for tonight it is disappointing and frustrating,” Klopp said.

“My players have to have belief. Still we are surprised by our good things. The goals were too easy. We lost faith in the second half and it is not enough in a final.”

German Klopp, who took over as manager last year, accepted his share of the responsibility for the defeat.

“Tonight we couldn’t reach our level – my job is to help the boys to see our opportunity and not feel the pressure so much,” he said.

“I’m responsible for this performance too. We are responsible for not being in Europe next year so we have to use this time. I promise everybody that we will come back stronger, 100 percent.”

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Liverpool, Sevilla Clash In Europa League Final

Liverpool, Sevilla Clash In Europa League Final

Adeboye   08:11:00   1 comment:

Liverpool take on Sevilla in the Europa League final in Basel on Wednesday (today) with a place in the group stage of next season’s Champions League up for grabs for the winners.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have endured an indifferent campaign in the Premier League, finishing eighth in the table, their lowest position since 2012. As a result, the Reds will miss out on European football altogether next season if they fail to beat a Sevilla team that has won the competition in each of the past two years.

Klopp insists, however, that Sevilla’s 2014 and 2015 triumphs mean nothing ahead of this year’s final at St Jakob Park. The German also be-lieves Sevilla’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on Sunday could “make a big difference” to the outcome of the game.

Sevilla, who are at least assured of a Europa League place next season courtesy of their seventh-place finish in La Liga, travel to Switzerland looking to make history by becoming the first club to win Europe’s secondtier competition three times in a row.

Meanwhile, a fifth triumph overall for Sevilla – all within just 10 years – would also extend the record it holds over the likes of Liverpool, Juventus and Inter Milan, who have all won the competition on three occasions.

At the same time, victory for the Merseysiders at St Jakob Park would see them draw level with the Spaniards as the joint-most successful team in the UEFA Cup/Europa League’s 45- year history.

But one perfect record has to end on Wednesday: Sevilla and Liverpool have won all seven UEFA Cup and Europa League finals they have played in. Unai Emery’s holders, though, have not won outside Spain all season long, a run that started back in August in Tbilisi when Barcelona won the UEFA Super Cup 5-4 after extra time.

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EPL: Late Liverpool Goal Denies Chelsea

EPL: Late Liverpool Goal Denies Chelsea

Adeboye   23:34:00   No comments:

Christian Benteke’s late header cancels out Eden Hazard’s brilliant solo goal as Liverpool keep alive their hopes of a top-six finish.
The Chelsea winger fired a low shot into the corner after a dazzling run to record his fourth goal in four games.
But Benteke secured a point for the Reds in added time when he pounced after an error from Asmir Begovic.

Liverpool remain eighth and are within three points of sixth-placed Southampton with a game left.
Meanwhile, Sunderland sealed their Premier League safety and relegated Norwich and local rivals Newcastle with a comprehensive victory over Everton.
Defender Lamine Kone struck twice from close range after Patrick van Aanholt scored with a 25-yard free-kick that was misjudged by keeper Joel Robles.
Victory capped an impressive revival by Sam Allardyce’s side, who have lost only two of their past 13 games.
Everton were dire, heaping more pressure on boss Roberto Martinez.
The Toffees have picked up only six points from their past 10 league matches and the Spaniard is likely to face an uncomfortable final game of the season in front of disgruntled crowd at Goodison Park, reports the BBC.
In contrast, Allardyce will be able to take his side to Watford on Sunday unburdened by the relegation fears that have surrounded the club since his appointment in October.
Sunderland’s survival was built on several key decisions this season, none more significant than the appointment of Allardyce after Dick Advocaat resigned following eight games without a win to start the campaign.
Hardened to the fight from his experiences at Bolton and Blackburn and with time on his side, the 61-year-old has steadily built a disciplined and spirited side, sprinkled with match-winners.
It has not always been smooth sailing – notably during a five-game losing streak at the end of last year – but since February they have been more consistent and possessing of far greater fight than their main relegation rivals.
They exemplified this once again on Wednesday with another display full of endeavour in front of a vociferous home crowd, who chanted their manager’s name throughout a lap of honour after the game.
EPL RESULTS
Liverpool 1 – 1 Chelsea
Norwich 4 – 2 Watford
Sunderland 3 – 0 Everton

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Liverpool Understudies Eye Euro Spotlight

Liverpool Understudies Eye Euro Spotlight

Adeboye   10:24:00   No comments:

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is desperate for another chance to impress against Chelsea on Wednesday as the fight to feature in the Europa League final hots up.

Allen has spent much of the season on the fringes of Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up, but the Wales international has impressed whenever selected and underlined his credentials with a goal in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Watford.

There are two league matches left against Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion before Liverpool face holders Sevilla in Basle on May 18 and Reds boss Klopp insists he does not yet know his line-up for the European showpiece.

That offers hope to Allen and the rest of Liverpool’s understudies, who may get another opportunity to state their cases when deposed champions Chelsea arrive at Anfield.

“With the final looming we want to use every opportunity we get out there on the pitch to build momentum ahead of that game against Sevilla,” Allen said.

“To be honest any time you step out for this team you are playing to prove you should be involved in the next game, whatever that game is.

“Of course there is an added incentive in some ways when there’s a final coming up.

“My personal mindset is that when I cross that white line my focus is always on performing and helping the team to get the result, regardless of who we’re playing.

“Personally, I don’t struggle to motivate myself.”

Liverpool started badly enough this season to warrant the sacking of Brendan Rodgers as manager, yet they could still match last year’s achievement in finishing sixth.

To do so, they may have to win their final two games or hope others drop points.

That may not be easy, given that Liverpool are approaching the end of a marathon season, which has already added up to 60 games.

Klopp has therefore had to juggle his resources and select below-strength sides, with Allen one of the unsung stars of their recent run, which has seen Liverpool lose just one of the last seven league games.

Striker Divock Origi and midfielder Jordan Henderson are still missing for Liverpool but could return at West Brom on Sunday.

The determination Chelsea had shown in denying Tottenham victory at Stamford Bridge last week, ending their London rivals’ title challenge, was notably absent in the 3-2 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday.

A disappointing display was capped by a red card for Blues legend John Terry who will now miss the final two games of the season and may well have played his last game for the club.

Terry’s possible departure when his contract expires in the close-season is just one of a number of changes expected when Antonio Conte takes charge after signing off from his duties with Italy in Euro 2016, reports AFP.

So the visit to Anfield gives Chelsea’s long list of underachievers another chance to demonstrate their value.

Nemanja Matic’s refusal to explain why he didn’t celebrate after scoring against Sunderland prompted suggestions the midfielder might also be on his way.

But the Serbia international is confident Chelsea can avoid a repeat of this season’s disappointment when the new campaign starts in August.

“Last season we were champions but this season we were not even close. We will see in the future what we can do,” Matic said.

“This season was not good for us, but I believe in our quality, I believe in myself and I know what I can do. We will see what we can do next year. Every season is a different story.

“Everything can change in a couple of months. We had the winning mentality, we were champions, and then in a couple of months we lost that.

“In a couple of months, everything can be back. We’ll see.”

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