Jurgen Klopp dismissed any notion Liverpool fans are “paranoid” about
“silly” suggestions the Reds’ Premier League title bid could be
derailed by the coronavirus.
The Reds’ hopes of going unbeaten throughout the Premier League
season were curtailed in a shock 3-0 loss at struggling Watford on
Saturday but they still hold a 22-point lead over Manchester City.
While there is limited threat from their rivals, reports over the
weekend said the Premier League could be impacted by the rapid spread of
coronavirus and Liverpool would not necessarily be crowned champions if
the season were ended prematurely as no rules exist in such a scenario.
However, Klopp says Liverpool fans – who have not seen their team win the top flight since 1990 – have no legitimate fears.
“I don’t think our fans are paranoid,” Klopp said when quizzed about
the coronavirus threat ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup fifth-round tie
against Chelsea.
“I can’t believe Liverpool fans are thinking about it and I actually speak to Liverpool fans.
“If anybody wants to ask me about that and how much sense it would
make to delete all the results of this season and tell me who will play
next year in the Champions League and stuff like this, it would be
really interesting.
“Nice story, obviously some newspapers have always to write something
but when I saw it the first time I really thought, ‘Wow, really
somebody thinks something like that?’.
“Liverpool fans are really not silly enough to believe in these things.”
#MondayMotivation
Two games. One week. Let’s do this pic.twitter.com/4HGbaLCX1L
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 2, 2020
Liverpool have endured a slight blip by their own phenomenal
standards this season, with defeats to Atletico Madrid and Watford
sandwiched by a comeback win against West Ham.
On Tuesday, Klopp’s side travel to Stamford Bridge for the next round
of the FA Cup and the German insists the match is not necessarily a
release from the pressures of the Premier League and Champions League.
“We never really think about lesser pressure, we are Liverpool, we are always under pressure,” he added.
“We play away at Chelsea and everyone expects us to win there, which
is difficult, was always difficult, will always be difficult.
“There’s for sure no favourite in this game and if [there is] then it’s Chelsea because they play at home.”
In the previous round, Liverpool needed a replay to get past
Shrewsbury Town in a match where Klopp courted controversy for handing
responsibility to Under-23s boss Neil Critchley to field a team of
youngsters as the fixture took place during the club’s mid-season break.
Critchley was appointed as Blackpool manager on Monday but, while he
is longer around, Klopp said some of Liverpool’s fledgling stars who
have featured in the tournament could be involved.
Thanks for everything, Critch
All the best at @BlackpoolFC pic.twitter.com/s2BOotMpQd
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 2, 2020
“It’s not about loyalty, these boys are our boys and they did what
they did and if we would win the FA Cup in the end they would be
involved in the celebrations,” Klopp added.
“If they will play I don’t know, not all of them, but from the
Shrewsbury team for sure there will be boys in the squad who will
start.”
On Critchley, he said: “Congratulations to Blackpool and to
Neil. It’s a great thing, nice challenge, nice opportunity for him.
Really nice because it shows that it’s possible you can make your way as
a youth coach.
“That’s always what we wanted to have, we wanted to have the best people here in all departments.”
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