LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has backed Liverpool’s “bad losers” to deliver a strong response when they face Brighton on Saturday stung by only their third defeat this season.
Klopp’s side were beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League last 16 second leg on Tuesday.
Although Liverpool advanced to the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate, having won the first leg in Italy 2-0, Klopp is well aware of the impact of a rare loss on his ferociously competitive players.
It was Liverpool’s first defeat at Anfield in a year and Klopp is expecting them to erase that sluggish display with a victory at Brighton as they chase Premier League leaders Manchester City.
“We are not good losers. I have usually after a game a little speech in the dressing room, most of the time it is quite nice to tell the boys how good they were, but in this game it was slightly different,” Klopp told reporters on Friday.
“I realized when I looked in their eyes I am in a better mood than the players when I came in and I lost as well.
“My first thought was ‘We are through against tough opponents’ and their first thought was ‘We lost’. Both is fine somehow.”
Klopp is confident the rare feeling of losing will give his players a wake-up call heading into the business end of the season.
“I didn’t like part of the performance, especially defensively, and that’s a good point to make as if we don’t defend well against Brighton we have a problem,” he said.
“Our counter-press was not even close to what I would have expected and we got punished for it.
“Do I like the fact that if you don’t do what the plan was then you get a knock for it then yes.
“I believe in humans and I really believe that everybody has a specific amount of self-motivation.
“If you see other guys around you who have something similar or bigger, higher level of motivation you realize there is possibly some room for improvement.”
Klopp has also told Mohamed Salah that the decision over signing a contract extension is in the Egypt forward’s hands.
Salah’s current deal expires at the end of next season and there is an impasse on negotiations over a new deal at present.
“I think Mo definitely expects this club to be ambitious and we are. It’s Mo’s decision. The club did what it can do. It is all fine. All fine from my point of view,” Klopp said.
“Nothing has happened further, no signing, no rejection, we just have to wait.”
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Liverpool boss Klopp expects strong response from his ‘bad losers’
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Liverpool boss Klopp expects strong response from his ‘bad losers’
- It was Liverpool's first defeat at Anfield in a year and Klopp is expecting them to erase that sluggish display with a victory at Brighton
- Klopp is confident the rare feeling of losing will give his players a wake-up call heading into the business end of the season
Lebanon name Madjid Bougherra as new coach
- The 43-year-old had previously been in charge of Algeria’s A team and won the Arab Cup with them in 2021 but resigned after they failed to defend their title in Qatar in December
BEIRUT: Lebanon have appointed former Algerian international Madjid Bougherra as their new coach, the national football association said.
Local media said it was a four-year deal.
The 43-year-old had previously been in charge of Algeria’s A team and won the Arab Cup with them in 2021 but resigned after they failed to defend their title in Qatar in December.
Bougherra captained Algeria at the 2014 World Cup and also played at the 2010 finals. The French-born central defender began his playing career at Gueugnon before moving across the English Channel playing at Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Rangers in Scotland.
His first match in charge will be Lebanon’s Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen in Qatar on March 31 where they only need a draw to qualify for the 2027 finals in Saudi Arabia.
Local media said it was a four-year deal.
The 43-year-old had previously been in charge of Algeria’s A team and won the Arab Cup with them in 2021 but resigned after they failed to defend their title in Qatar in December.
Bougherra captained Algeria at the 2014 World Cup and also played at the 2010 finals. The French-born central defender began his playing career at Gueugnon before moving across the English Channel playing at Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Rangers in Scotland.
His first match in charge will be Lebanon’s Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen in Qatar on March 31 where they only need a draw to qualify for the 2027 finals in Saudi Arabia.
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