Jurgen Klopp spoke to reporters at Melwood on Friday afternoon, ahead of Liverpool’s return to action in the Premier League away to Watford.
The Reds’ last outing came on November 11, before the international break, and just under two weeks later they face a difficult trip to Vicarage Road.
But having taken all three points in relatively straightforward fashion against Fulham, and returning from the interval largely unscathed, Klopp’s side can take confidence to Watford.
With the Hornets sitting seventh in the table heading into the weekend after an excellent start under Javi Gracia, though, it won’t be an easy afternoon.
And addressing the media just over 24 hours before kickoff in Hertfordshire, Klopp emphasised this, saying “they are really good.”
“[They play] really good football. Lively, well organised in a 4-4-2 mostly. Good game plan, playing football, preparing direction constantly,” he told reporters.
“With Deeney, who will be back—Mitrovic did really well in a similar job [for Fulham] and Troy is another step up—he’s really smart in that, hard, it will be interesting.
“Quick wingers, very good midfielders—Capoue, Doucoure—so analysing their game was really nice!
“I knew it before, I didn’t have time to watch all the games, but I saw the game against Tottenham. It was already good.
“So that’s a proper package, for sure the best Watford team since I’m in, [the right] combination with the manager. It’s an interesting project.”
The manager also discussed Daniel Sturridge‘s FA betting case, saying “he’s 100 percent [still] in contention,” while providing an update on the fitness of his squad, with Jordan Henderson “ready to play” but Adam Lallana absent.
“All the rest came back healthy, which is brilliant. So we have to make a few decisions, obviously,” he added.
Liverpool face a testing nine days from Saturday, with a defining trip to Paris Saint-Germain to come in the Champions League on Wednesday, before the Merseyside derby at Anfield next weekend.
This underlines the importance of victory over Watford, and as Klopp explains, “it will be a proper challenge.”
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