Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, isn’t fond of Merseyside derbies and doesn’t expect to miss them after his Liverpool tenure concludes. According to him, these matches serve as a testament to his requirement for a break upon completion of every title campaign.
Klopp is likely to reflect positively on the highly contested derby in English football, as it’s approaching its 244th iteration and both local rival teams are in critical need of a triumph, albeit for varying reasons.
Despite losing only one out of 18 Merseyside derbies, all of which were held behind closed doors due to the epidemic, it’s not an event Klopp particularly relishes. He has an undefeated streak at Goodison Park and a tenth victory over Everton would make Liverpool’s 100th win in this historic fixture. However, Klopp isn’t a fan of the mounting pressure that accompanies such showdowns.
This pressure, he explains, overrides the joy of victory. With Diogo Jota’s forthcoming two-week injury layoff causing an extra layer of challenge, Klopp questions why he should miss the stress, particularly during times when both teams are not performing optimally. He finds this tension unenjoyable and certainly doesn’t intend to miss it post his managerial term.
Klopp, the Liverpool manager, expressed his feelings about the taxing nature of his job. He outlined how some find the intensity exciting, but he’s often overwhelmed by the responsibility and decision-making it requires. He revealed that his visitors often express their intrigue, but fail to understand the relentless nature of his work and fail to comprehend that his work continues even after the game ends. He did, however, admit to missing certain elements of it.
Klopp also commented on his last European match, which took place last week against Atalanta. He underlined his lack of sentimentality towards the match, stating that he didn’t feel the urge to halt his journey even though it was his last European outing.
Discussing the traditionally tough Merseyside derby, Klopp expressed initial concerns about its physically demanding style. Early on, he had to familiarise the players with the intensity of the game. He admitted his initial shock at the extent of the physical nature of the game but noted that it has reduced over the years. However, he remains committed to enduring the ups and downs of the sport, as long as it doesn’t cross certain boundaries.
Klopp asserts that Everton’s back-to-back home victories over Nottingham Forest and Burnley has essentially guaranteed their position in the premier league for another term. Everton’s manager, Sean Dyche, who will be missing his player Beto due to a concussion protocol and has concerns over a potential injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, would beg to differ.
The significance of this city rivalry match for Liverpool is unquestionable. The Liverpool manager stated: “Until just a few weeks back, everything was exceeding expectations [from the beginning of the season], but this week, despite delivering one of our strongest performances against [Manchester] United, we tasted defeat, leading to questions of ‘Why aren’t you scoring more?’
Merely two teams have outscored us (Manchester City and Arsenal) and they haven’t managed 50 more goals than us. We claimed victory over Atalanta, which wasn’t enough to proceed, though we did win. Then we bested Fulham and people criticized it as not being good enough. Good heavens, I do wish you could play a game in the Premier League and experience the intensity. I am truly optimistic. We triumphed in our last two matches 4-1 [collectively], so viewed from that perspective, we are in a favourable phase.”