The big match is on this Sunday when Liverpool face Manchester United with the champions still not looking at their best, and with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men suddenly top of the Premier League table.<\/p>\n
The Anfield boss has made it clear that this is hardly the time for mind games but simple straight talking instead.<\/p>\n
Jurgen Klopp has said that he\u2019s rubbish at putting pressure on opponents.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, I have no skills for playing mind games,\u201d he said in the run up to the biggest game of the league season so far.<\/p>\n
His words were a putdown to former referee Mark Clattenburg and to Ole, with both believe th e Liverpool boss highlighted United\u2019s number of penalty awards to put pressure on Sunday\u2019s official, Paul Tierney. Mind games put aside, Klopp\u2019s words could just have easily been about his approach to a game this weekend that could well define his team\u2019s faltering season.<\/p>\n
Liverpool have won just five of their last 12 matches, a run since November 23 which has seen their air of invincibility punctured dramatically.<\/p>\n
Klopp went into the reasons behind his side\u2019s struggles only last week, admitting that attempts to sort out his injury-hit back-line had caused huge problems in all other areas.<\/p>\n
Despite that he offers neither excuses nor illusions for his side apart from saying it\u2019s not been good enough, in a rare example of straight-talking from a Premier League manager.<\/p>\n
He also added it is not as simple as telling his league champions to just go out now and prove they are the country\u2019s best, either.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it would be that easy, I would just say exactly that: Show it now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, he argued that no team, not even a world-beating Liverpool side who have appeared invincible for two seasons, can expect to \u201cclick\u201d all the time, which was why he he told his side in a clear the air meeting this week the response must be simple, and emphatic – learn from the surprise set backs instead of being derailed by them, because setbacks are inevitable.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we did not do outstandingly well since mid-November. But thank God, when I say I don\u2019t think about the good things, that I don\u2019t think about the about the bad things. Who cares? We still have 33 points!\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we are not where we want to be but we have learned a lot from this season. We have learned a lot. The circumstances, dealing with the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not because of the boys\u2019 attitude. It\u2019s just because it didn\u2019t work out. What we had to accept, after a long time when things were just clicking in specific games, they then did not click. It\u2019s not that it disappeared somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Klopp knows the time is well nigh for him and his Reds to respond positively.<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s match is ideal for Liverpool to rediscover their indomitable attitude than against the pretenders to their crown, a United side who come to Anfield with aggressive confidence and even a supercilious, cocky countenance.<\/p>\n
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