Jurgen Klopp: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota give Liverpool ‘a chance’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota gives their title hopes a much-needed boost.
Defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend saw Klopp’s side drop to third as Manchester City moved into a two-point lead at the top of the table.
But with results faltering, the performance by Alexander-Arnold in the Europa League win over Atalanta, particularly in the first half, has offered renewed hope.
The defender was making his first start since mid-February after a knee injury and, while Jota has yet to have the same impact in three relatively short substitute appearances after a similar two-month lay-off, the clinical nature of his game could offset some of the deficiencies currently being experienced by his fellow forwards.
“We need Trent Alexander-Arnold, of course, but we need him in a really good shape and form and that’s what he has to get up to,” said Klopp ahead of the trip to Fulham.
“It’s not about him and it’s not his fault if he wouldn’t be, it’s just the situation. So how quick can we get him rolling if you want – the same for Diogo.
“We have to find a way to help the boys in the best way, to bring them as quick as possible into their best form or shape and from there we have to go.
“Without them we wouldn’t have a chance. With them we have a chance, with them in a really good football moment the chance gets bigger and bigger.”
Klopp remains positive about their chances despite recent failures and feels six wins could see them snatch the title from the grasp of their rivals.
Although a Europa League exit on aggregate was disappointing there were positives to take from the game.
Alexander-Arnold’s display, drifting infield to dictate play and even popping up in the centre-forward’s position on occasions in Bergamo, was one and a first clean sheet in 10 matches was another.
With struggles up front continuing – Liverpool have scored only two goals in the opening 15 minutes in a league game this season – a more solid backline offers a better platform and that is why Klopp is optimistic.
“I don’t have a lot of qualities but I am always completely honest. If I don’t feel great the players feel it pretty quickly,” he said.
“I cannot really deny or just keep it under the carpet so that means after the game against Palace people ask ‘What do you tell the team now?’.
“But here we are a few days later and I feel absolutely great, I see the good in the situation where we are. It is fantastic.
“The boys know that I don’t tell them things which I don’t believe in and I am 100 percent sure we can really win all of the games we will have to from now on.
“What should influence us more: the last game, the last week or is it the chance in front of us?
“I am fully (of the opinion) that there is a next chance for us and we can turn things absolutely around in all departments. We can make it still an outstanding season.
“It will be a good season but of course how you look at it is in the end is massively influenced by the last part of it.”
Home
/
Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold confident Liverpool can thrive as 'hunters'
Alexander-Arnold recently returned to action after two months on sidelines
Liverpool surrendered lead at top of Premier League with surprise defeat to Crystal Palace
The 25-year-old believes in Liverpool's ability to chase and come from behind
By Toby Cudworth
9:25 AM GMT+1
Trent Alexander-Arnold recently returned to action after injury
Trent Alexander-Arnold recently returned to action after injury / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
Trent Alexander-Arnold admits Liverpool may have handed Manchester City the Premier League title after their recent slip-up, but says it might be a good time for the club to revert to the role of hunters.
The Reds surprisingly lost at home to Crystal Palace last Sunday, three days after they were trounced by Atalanta at Anfield in the Europa League.
Liverpool failed to overcome the deficit in midweek, despite winning the second leg in Bergamo, and now have their eggs fully in the Premier League basket as they look to end Jurgen Klopp's tenure with a second title in four years.
Arsenal also dropped points last weekend to hand Manchester City the initiative in the title race, and Pep Guardiola's side normally need no second invitation to take advantage at this junction of the season.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Liverpool's trip to Fulham, Alexander-Arnold admitted that City are so hard to beat in the title race because they rarely make any mistakes, but said his teammates are simply focused on controlling their own destiny by picking up maximum points from the six games they have left to play.
"Arsenal experienced it, we've experienced it two or three times, when you get into a title race with Man City they are borderline perfect," the 25-year-old said. "You can't slip up or make mistakes. If you give them the upper hand they don't really blink in those moments. They don't seem vulnerable. It's a well-oiled machine.
"That's what they do, they click and there's no stopping them. Giving them this advantage with six games to go is almost like handing them the title. All we can do is hope someone does us a favour and get our goal difference up.
"We've got six games left, it'll fly by. Our aim is to win every game - that's all we can and try to capitalise. It will be difficult but I've seen over the last few weeks of odds and percentage chances of who is going to win the league has fluctuated with just one result. Anything can happen in the Premier League.
Curtis Jones
Liverpool have been guilty of conceding the first goal in games far too often / Michael Regan/GettyImages
"They are a fantastic team with the squad they've got, the manager, it's hard to think they won't win it at this point. Stranger things have happened in the Premier League."
Liverpool have often thrived when behind and that has been the story of their season so far. They have fallen behind in games an astonishing 21 times during 2023/24, yet still find themselves in the mix to win the Premier League title.
And Alexander-Arnold admitted it could be a good thing for Liverpool that they are once again playing the role of hunters.
"Maybe it's the right moment we became a hunter again - who knows," he said. "We played our game and we watched Arsenal's game with one eye, 'oh, they lost that game'. That softens the situation slightly but then people say Man City will win all of their remaining games - of course they can.
"Can we win football games? Can we be us again? If we can do that then we'll have a good chance of doing something really special. And if not, then someone else deserves to be champions.
"How do we approach it? With a fear of failing or the excitement of maybe succeeding. I want to succeed. Until someone proves me wrong, there's no other way to do it. We've done that in the past. Let's see. I'd love to have the chance on the last matchday and then we can see what we can do."
READ THE LATEST LIVERPOOL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
•
Football transfer rumours: Real Madrid revise Davies plan; Zidane waiting for Man Utd
•
Premier League Gameweek 34 & FA Cup semi-final predictions
•
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Fulham - Premier League
•
Virgil van Dijk explains why Liverpool couldn't mount Europa League comeback
Related Topics
Premier League
Liverpool FC
Arsenal FC
Manchester City FC
Crystal Palace FC
Pep Guardiola
Fulham FC
