Jurgen Klopp exclusive: Liverpool manager on Rhys Williams’ opportunity and how Mohamed Salah developed his game | Football news

“It’s the toughest season ever, 100%, for everyone,” says Jurgen Klopp, as he considers the tireless demands of this unique 2020/21 season, during an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.

“The teams with international soccer are in the most difficult period of all time, because October is like the usual December, November is like the usual December and December is still like December. And January will not be much different.

“So from a month with practically no rest [in previous Decembers], at four months with practically no rest, that’s a huge challenge. Nobody knows exactly how to deal with it.

“We’ll see who gets through this, how we get through it, but we’ll fight with everything we have.”

Klopp and Liverpool intend to meet the challenge with typical determination, but injuries have made their task even more difficult.

We spoke to Klopp a few minutes after Liverpool announced that Virgil van Dijk underwent a successful knee surgery. “I had the same injury years and years ago,” says the coach. “The first days are far from pleasant, so it is after the surgery. But apart from that, we are all, and he is, already in a fighting mood. From now on we count the time backwards.”

But the absence of the Dutchman has been aggravated by the injuries of Joel Matip and Fabinho, who would have been alternatives in the center with Joe Gómez.

Earlier this week, former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana suggested that Klopp would be “turned on” by the challenge of overcoming this defensive injury crisis, and the German agrees, painting a relatively positive and respectful outlook on setbacks.

“We obviously worked together with Adam for a while and we had difficult situations in our time together and yes, actually, it is like that,” Klopp said.

“Whenever you have a problem, whatever the problem, in football it is mainly about missing players, it happens almost every year, he’s right, you need a moment to fix yourself, more or less to realize ‘that’s all ‘And from that moment I see it as it is, it is a challenge, and I like challenges!

“So I’m fine with the situation, and now we’ll deal with it, let’s make the best of it. Let’s see the opportunity in it, the opportunity for other players and all these kinds of things. Let’s get even closer.

“There are many things that can be taken out of a situation like that. It’s not easy, I know, and it’s not about saying a little and smiling here, smiling there. It’s about really living the challenge and that’s what you’re doing. “.

Williams opportunity

Indeed, the blows for Van Dijk, Matip and Fabinho open the door for 19-year-old Rhys Williams, who is on the line of making his Premier League debut at the heart of Liverpool’s defense against West Ham on Saturday. at night. live on Sky Sports.

It’s a notable turn of events for the young defender, who was playing at Darlington for Kidderminster Harriers in the NL North this weekend 12 months ago.

Klopp admits to knowing little about him at the time, but was convinced of his quality when elite development coach Vitor Matos recommended training with the first team when another young talent, 17-year-old Billy Koumetio, was injured in the preseason.

“I’m involved in most things, but not all, so it’s not like I knew Rhys Williams before he was on loan,” Klopp said.

“We knew from preseason that Nat Phillips was back. [from his loan at Stuttgart]. I’ve known him for a long time and I really like him, sensational boy, character, real fighter, and we knew about ‘Billy the Kid’, he was in a preseason with us.

“Then when Billy got injured, we thought, ‘Okay, how can we fill it up?’ And Vitor said, ‘No, there’s Rhys Williams, he’s really good.’ ‘Ok, bring him,’ and then I saw him on the first. time, and from the get-go he’s pretty awesome. He’s a character too, which helps, so that’s the situation now.

“That’s what I mean when you have problems, you need to realize that there is a problem and immediately you have to work on solutions. Our solutions now are quite young players.

“We will see how we will use them and we can use them. But they will help us and we will help them, and Rhys is one of them.”

About to equal a home record

It’s likely to be a baptism of fire for the England U20 center-back when they take on West Ham, a team Klopp describes as “physically incredibly strong … a set-piece threat and a really tall team,” but whom He also praises as “a completely different animal” to West Ham from last season after the good signings and good organization of David Moyes.

However, Williams will miss the Anfield roar. The absence of fans is felt across the country and Liverpool is no different. However, they have still been able to maintain their incredible record at home.

With three wins out of three in the Premier League this season, the only club that remains perfect in their own patch, Liverpool are in a position to match their all-time club record in consecutive undefeated games at Anfield if not loses to West. Ham.

Against a West Ham team that has won in the stadium only once in 50 attempts and against a rival coach who has never tasted victory there, Liverpool will be the favorites to do just that.

But how have they been able to maintain their 62-game unbeaten streak at home, when home advantage has been wiped out for many other teams since football was restarted in the summer with no fans in the stands?

“I think I heard David (Moyes) say that Anfield will be different without supporters. It’s our point to prove it,” Klopp said. “The good teams thought that too and the guys did an amazing job [to win the first three home games of the season].

“I didn’t see much of anyone cheering us on because the boys did it themselves and that’s what we have to do again. It’s still our home, it’s still our stadium, everything is there except the fans. And they make a big difference, but that’s not going to change at the moment, so we have to deal with that. “

The development of Salah

If West Ham is to end the streak, it will also have to find a way to stop Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool forward has six goals in six games against the east side of London, and with four goals in his last five games in total, he comes into shape in Saturday’s clash.

Salah has played a more central role during his last two appearances and Klopp says the Egyptian’s desire to keep improving, to keep adapting, is a good example for his teammates.

“Mo has played an incredible season so far, and he developed again as a player from that pure scoring machine to a more connected player, very important to us,” Klopp said. “He is the hardest worker, he can come and go again, he uses his speed but also his technique between the lines.

“As a team we have to develop, as players we have to develop. That is normal because you have more experience, you have more games in your legs, that means that you understand the game better and better and you become more aware of your own abilities and use them. more consciously.

“I am very happy with his development and the season so far. But of course we need him and all the guys in his best form to achieve our goals.”

During this most difficult period, that combination of brilliance and togetherness will be key for Liverpool.

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