Jurgen Klopp is not concerned by Liverpool’s form after FA Cup loss at Chelsea
Jurgen Klopp played down concerns about Liverpool‘s current form after his side fell to a third defeat in their last four games.
The runaway Premier League leaders have been beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Watford in the Premier League and Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday night in what is Liverpool’s worst spell of the 2019-20 season.
Klopp’s side have set the standard this campaign and defeat at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday saw them go another game without scoring in their losses and making it eight goals conceded in their last four.
Jurgen Klopp reiterated that he is not concerned despite Liverpool’s back-to-back defeats
Ross Barkley was on hand to fire Chelsea past Liverpool and into the FA Cup quarter-finals
But having made seven changes to the side that lost to Watford and the club still on course for a first Premier League title, Klopp is adamant that there is no need for panic during this surprising blip, despite admitted their defending has been poor.
‘It went our way for so long because we defended outstandingly,’ Klopp said.
‘Normally you don’t get a lot of chances against us but we have to admit in the last four games absolutely, too many goals from completely different situations. I am not worried about momentum. We always have the chance to get it back, I am not concerned about momentum, it’s football.
The 2-0 loss means Virgil van Dijk and Co have shipped eight goals in their last four matches
It was a frustrating night for Liverpool as they struggled to match Chelsea’s all-round intensity
‘We never thought it would be an easy season, an easy period, an easy game tonight, nothing. It was always difficult. Tonight was not good enough and that is what we have to accept.’
Since losing 1-0 to Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on February 18, Liverpool beat West Ham 3-2 at Anfield, were beaten 3-0 away to Watford and now 2-0 away to Chelsea.
Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, regular starters, were dropped to the bench before coming on late and Klopp was keen to reward academy products like Curtis Jones and Neco Williams given their form to this point.
Those two were among seven changes made by Klopp and he remained confident after the match that the major reshuffle was necessary given the debacle at Watford.
‘The performance tonight was completely different to Watford,’ he added. ‘Watford was really bad, tonight was not bad. Super intense game, we made seven changes and we knew it would be intense which was why we made the changes.
‘You need acceleration constantly so that’s why we thought we had to make the changes. That performance tonight I am not concerned about.’
Mohamed Salah came on late but was among seven changes from the 3-0 defeat at Watford
Klopp said the defeat was a learning experience for young players like Curtis Jones (right)
Williams and Jones impressed in the previous round against Shrewsbury when Klopp and the first team took time off for the winter break, leaving the club’s young players to dispatch Shrewsbury, and so they were rewarded with starts.
And while both had bright moments in the loss to Chelsea, Jones in particular can learn from the experience having given the ball away in the lead up to a goal, Klopp said.
‘Look, Curtis (Jones) showed so many things tonight like “Wow, what a player” and yes he loses the ball away and that is a learning process,’ Klopp reflected.
‘That’s learning, you cannot learn at home in the living room, you have to learn on the pitch and react to it. That’s how it is. Neco (Williams) played a super game tonight.’
