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Klopp: Liverpool players ‘stiff in their minds’

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Liverpool are already showing signs of adapting to Klopp's ways

Liverpool are already showing signs of adapting to Klopp’s ways

In his first two games in charge at Liverpool Jurgen Klopp has seen his side show signs of considerable improvement, with old issues still clearly holding the team back.

While we’re already seeing significant improvements in work-ethic, distance covered and the players implementing Klopp’s notorious high-pressing game, the problem in front of goal (at both ends) has remained. But the new Liverpool manager is confident that these are problems that can be resolved, once the players stop playing in their heads.

Speaking (via the Guardian) ahead of the Sunday afternoon game, Klopp said: “It is important to get more stable but I saw the pressure on the players when they missed a chance.

“I saw some players they were so stiff in their minds… ‘Now we have to shoot’… we have to decide better [when it comes to] shooting, passing. When we go in the box we have to be better.

“It is only important you are always able to make the right decision at the right time because they have the quality to finish and create chances.

“We created chances against a deep defending opponent [Rubin] and we had many situations where we were close – and close is better than far away.

“This is, after this short time [since Klopp arrived], pretty normal. Sometimes you have to show them when to shoot and where the other options are and then the boys have to decide by themselves. I am still cool with the situation.”

The likes of James Milner and Adam Lallana have come in for heavy criticism since joining the club for holding on to the ball for too long, dawdling over passes and not pulling the trigger when a chance to shoot arises. But the manager appears to believe that these are issues that can be resolved. It will take time, but they can be resolved.

He continued: “It is really not easy to compare completely different things but, in my first season at Dortmund, we had 15 draws and we only lost four games and finished sixth.

“I want the result with all my body gives me but I have seen many things we have done in training in the games. I didn’t expect that we would run through the league from the moment I started here. This league is too strong, the opponents are too strong.

“We don’t have enough time between the games to always be 20% better in the next game. But I have seen many things. I see it in set plays, in the defensive play. I trust in the qualities of the players.”

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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.

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