New Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said on Tuesday (27 October) that his players have the quality to improve their results as they prepare to face AFC Bournemouth in the English League Cup fourth round.
Sundays 1-1 draw at home to Southampton means that the German coach is still without a win from his three games in charge since replacing Brendan Rodgers at Anfield. Klopps arrival was greeted with great expectation but three consecutive draws have served as a reality check.
These players have skills to make goals of course, they have so many skills its really great, Klopp told reporters at Anfield. I dont think theres any doubt about the quality of the players and we have to learn more and more, and I have to understand why things happen like they happen, they dont have too much time for this, so every game for me is very very important.
Liverpool have drawn eight of their 14 games so far this season, winning just four times in all competitions and losing twice. The clubs last victory came against Aston Villa on 26 September, but Klopp believes that the players need time to adjust to new coaching methods before results will improve.
If you have this level of new information and new things then it goes a step down usually, and then you can start and then it goes in the other direction, the former Borussia Dortmund coach said. Thats pretty normal that we all want that they play from here but I cannot give the information to this region (points at his body) I have to give it to here (points to his head). And thats all the time you need to change your movements and all these things. Im surprised all the steps are that we did.
Liverpool take on Bournemouth on Wednesday in a game that could help bring their stuttering season to life. I knew that if you become new in a club usually you have more time, but if you dont have then you have to accept that the way is hard to go, because we dont have friendly games to get better, we are in a competition every three days, a very important competition. For us we have to find a solution and my faith in this team is really big. All the players who work with us together since Im been here its a really good atmosphere, working atmosphere in this squad.
I like what I do and if somebody hopes that its quicker or faster or whatever then Im sorry for this. I dont think that its better that we win the first game and dont know why, I think that its important that we find a way and win games in the future and know why. Then we can take this game and the next game and know that if we make this better than last time then we get better, thats very important. So for this moment its really okay but its hard, Im sorry for this.
The Cherries have let in 10 goals in their last two games, against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, and with striker Christian Benteke in the side, Liverpool will fancy their chances.
The Belgian, who is playing his way back after a hamstring injury, came on at halftime against Southampton and added an immediate threat to a side that had looked largely toothless before his introduction. The match will be played at Anfield where construction is underway on the Main Stand, which will see the capacity of the ground rise to 54,000 when it is completed in the 2016/17 season.
