Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants his side to copy Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester for Premier League success
German wants his Anfield side to be more confident like the Foxes were in the final months of their title win
JURGEN KLOPP’S festive drink with Claudio Ranieri helped show him what is possible in the Premier League.
Liverpool had just beaten Leicester courtesy of Christian Benteke’s Boxing Day winner and it appeared Ranieri’s belief had gone.
Just over a month later, the Foxes were winning at the Etihad to get the title in their grip — and they never let go.
After seeing that, Klopp is refusing to put a limit on what his Kop stars can do as he approaches his first full season in charge.
The Anfield chief said: “Leicester is a good example — they weren’t too confident at the beginning, then they were more confident.
“I remember last season after we beat them at home, we were in the manager’s bar . . . or office! Why shouldn’t Leicester be champions? He said, ‘Stop talking, there’s no chance’. But four weeks later they believed. That is how it is.
“You can do this however you come through the early autumn. Then especially in the winter you have to come through and when you see the finish line you have to be in the race.”
Ever since he arrived last October, Klopp has insisted this was ‘his’ Liverpool team.
But the side that runs out at Arsenal today will have the German’s real imprint rather than what he inherited from Brendan Rodgers.
Sadio Mane has arrived for £30million to add pace to an attack that already has plenty of speed.
Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan bolster the defence, while Georginio Wijnaldum gives power in midfield.
They are the ingredients Klopp believes will bring success.
RELATED STORIES:
His aim is to be on an open-top bus around Liverpool every season but he is not ruling out the big prize.
Klopp said: “It’s not a problem with my language. Look, why should I limit our expectations? There are 19 other teams and I’m pretty sure at the moment they think they can be successful, so I don’t want to set us a limit.
“I say, ‘Come on, open your minds and go for everything’. We fight for everything. Each cup.”
Daniel Sturridge’s injury woes are a concern for Klopp and keeper Loris Karius is also crocked.
But no European football means he will have entire free weeks to work with his players, even if he desperately wants to mix it with the continent’s elite.
He said: “We need to be in Europe. There is nothing positive about not being involved in Europe — only more time to prepare for the next game.
“We need to use the situation when you have fresher legs than the other team — but even we didn’t lose all of our games the weekend after playing in Europe last season.
“We had one or two games when it was too hard — Villarreal, then playing Swansea at 12 or something like that, which was a big joke.”
It was pointed out to Klopp that no European football worked to Leicester’s advantage last term.
He admitted: “They had three weeks’ holiday last season. I remember reading that when Ranieri gave them a week off, we had four games.
“And after Christmas, I think we had about 13 games to their five — it was unbelievable. It was a big advantage for them.”
Not a bad opportunity, then, for the Kop to follow suit and give Klopp the chance to raise another glass.