Jurgen Klopp insists he has 'energy' to save Liverpool's season
By Tom Gott
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has assured fans that he remains energised as he prepares to try and fix the Reds' nightmare season.
Ahead of Sunday's visit from league leaders Arsenal, Liverpool sit eighth in the Premier League table, 13 points adrift of the top four and facing an uphill battle to even qualify for any form of European football next season.
Having faced significant questions over his suitability for the task at hand, Klopp was adamant he is no stranger to overcoming adversity.
"I have no problem with re-energising. It is part of the job," he said. "At the start of my career, I worked for Mainz who lost most games because they didn’t have a chance.
"If I’d ever doubted myself, that would have been tricky for me. I never thought I am the best manager or the worst.
READ THE LATEST LIVERPOOL NEWS HERE
feed
"It’s just a situation at the moment that we have to get through. I understand football and know a lot about human beings. Sometimes you just need time in a world where we don’t have time. It’s not that I’m super-patient and say 'ok, no problem, we will sort that next week'. That’s not my nature to be honest but, really, my energy is not an issue."
Klopp also took the opportunity to defend the under-fire Virgil van Dijk who, like many of Liverpool's stars, has fallen short of his lofty expectations this season.
"Virge is not under pressure to be a leader, he is a leader. Always was," Klopp assured supporters.
"Organising the line is a massive thing but it’s not that he started now becoming a leader. It was always the case."
LISTEN NOW
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey, Toby Cudworth & Tom Gott discuss Chelsea's decision to sack Graham Potter, Man City and Real Madrid's interest in Josko Gvardiol, the futures of William Saliba, Kai Havertz, Randal Kolo Muani & more!
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!