SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 20 hrs 47 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
NL
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 15, 2020 at 5.30pm UK
 
LL

0-1

 
FT(HT: 0-0)
Mane (78')

Jurgen Klopp has no concerns about Liverpool picking up pace after "dream" week

:Headline: Jurgen Klopp has no concerns about Liverpool picking up pace after 'dream' week: ID:389673: from db_amp
The Reds have won 24 of 25 league matches this season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has no concerns about his runaway Premier League leaders picking up their relentless pace again after their mid-season break.

The German welcomed his players back on Monday for a "dream" week of training after their time off and is confident they will hit the ground running against bottom side Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Liverpool have won 24 of 25 league matches this season, dropping only two points, and head into the weekend with a 22-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.

Liverpool are back in training after the winter break (Peter Byrne/PA)

"It's a pity we had to explain the necessity and how useful a week's break is," he said.

"It's about using this time. Rest is only one word, it's recovery, recharging, there a lot of things starting with 're' that happened in that week.

"That's why we wanted it, that's why we fought for it, that's why we made some decisions around it.

"The dream of a manager is to have a full week to prepare a game, then you have an intense training session which you usually can't have.

"The most intense session is the game in a training week when you play Saturday, Wednesday, Sunday.

"Now it is the other way around and we used the week to train hard, we trained a lot.

"You don't really lose rhythm for the games but your own rhythm for playing football but that was done Monday when we started.

"It's not that we don't enjoy playing, playing, playing but doing something else for one week in the middle of a season is just nice.

"Coming back you are looking forward to the next game like you didn't play for the last half-year."

The break has allowed forward Sadio Mane and midfielder James Milner to fully recover from hamstring injuries, which leaves only Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) as the only absent member of the first-team squad.

"Of course they are in contention, that's clear," added Klopp.

"When Millie and Sadio are back, you start thinking immediately (about using them). That's how it is.

"It looks like, and I hope it stays like this, apart from Shaqiri, (Nathaniel) Clyne and (Paul) Glatzel, all players are in training.

Liverpool's James Milner is back in contention (Tim Goode/PA)

"We have some good options and we have to hope it stays like this. It will be really great for the very decisive part of the season."

While Klopp is only focused on this weekend's game he is having to give some thought to an issue looming for the summer after reports in Egypt suggested Mohamed Salah will be called up as an overage player for the country's Olympic squad.

The event takes place at the end of July-start of August and would mean the forward would miss a key part of pre-season training.

"Do I want to lose a player in pre-season? Of course not. That's clear. But we have to consider different things. I will speak with Mo and all that stuff," said Klopp.

"We are completely clear about what we want, but we need more information – how will it look, when will the preparation start, all that stuff, and nobody has really contacted us so far, it's just in the media.

"It's difficult to get in contact with me using the newspapers over there because most of the things I don't read.

"No decision yet, but we will see."

amp_article__389673 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-02-14 12:36:53:
html db last update - 2020-02-14 12:36:53 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Jurgen Klopp

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .