MY ACCOUNT
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp declared himself “100 per cent responsible for this rubbish” but is sure the club can get through their tough season “in a classy manner”.
After agonisingly missing out on a quadruple last season, the Reds have had a difficult 2022-23 campaign that has already seen them knocked out of every cup competition, while they sit eighth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s Anfield clash with leaders Arsenal.
The Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22, as well as reaching the Champions League final and finishing just a point behind Premier League winners Manchester City.
With 10 matches left this term, Liverpool’s points total of 43 is less than half what they amassed in 2021-22, and Klopp accepts it is unacceptable.
“I’m sorry for our people, that they don’t have the season they wished for. But in the long term they will forget that,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I couldn’t care less what we did last year or the years before. I’m 100 per cent responsible for this rubbish and it’s really not cool.”
The German coach recently admitted his generally impeccable record with the club was probably the reason his job has not come into question, and shared his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans.
“I know everybody can express their emotions in an instant and there will be a lot of negative comments about us – I understand that,” he said. “But the people in the stadium are incredible.
“You see things happening at other clubs, not only sackings but teams against owners, fans against owners, fans against the team – I’ve seen it all.
“But if anyone can get through a situation like this in a classy manner, I really think it’s us as a club.”
Liverpool played every game possible last season (63), and the associated fatigue has been cited as one of the reasons for their dramatic dip in form, while Chelsea (61 matches) and City (56 matches) have also seen their points totals regress.
“What you’ve seen this year is that a lot of teams that performed last year on an extremely high level are not exactly there,” Klopp added. “Even City. Of course they play sensational football, but they don’t have the same points tally as last year [64, compared to 69 at the same stage in 2021-22].
“The intensity, at one point, gets you and maybe it caught us this year. But that is no excuse for the next 10 games.
“It may be an explanation for why we are not on our top level. We didn’t find a way to bring in consistent performances.”
Sitting 13 points behind Newcastle United and Manchester United in third and fourth place respectively, it will take a significant turnaround for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League, even if they have a game in hand.
Klopp believes a “lack of confidence” has played a part, as well as injuries, but his team’s potential has still been visible with a 9-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season, and a 7-0 thrashing of rivals United in their last home game.
Their shortcomings were on show again just six days later though, stumbling to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.
“World-class players are performing on a strange level,” he said. “It started with injuries and players coming back early, and we were never really settled in this season.
“We have to go through that and I have no problem with that. When I look back in 10 or 15 years this season will probably not be involved with highlights, but hopefully there’ll be a lot of things we can learn from it and can use next year.
“But we have to fight through this and this is tough. If it was easy they wouldn’t pay me that much money for it.
“We’ve had a super-strange season. We’ve had the two highest wins in our history but then a week later we cannot do it.”
