Jurgen Klopp has welcomed Liverpool’s shaky record away to top-six Premier League sides, insisting they will go to Chelsea on Sunday “to get the result.”
At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Klopp was posed the statistic that, since the 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge in September 2016, his side have won just one of their 12 away games against the top six.
That was the 2-1 win at Tottenham two years later, and during that time there have been losses to Man City (twice), Spurs, Man United and Chelsea, along with draws with United (twice), City, Arsenal (twice), Chelsea.
Asked why he thought Liverpool struggled on the road against the rest of the top six, Klopp joked: “Because they are really good, that could be one reason.”
He was then provided a comparison, with City winning seven of theirs in that time, and Crystal Palace victorious in five.
“That’s no nice comparison actually, the style of play [between] Crystal Palace and Man City, but obviously there are different ways to win away games and we have to find one,” he replied.
“This isn’t good news obviously, but I don’t feel it, so give it a try.
“A lot of people said it already, the longer things like this happen the more likely it is that it will change.
“So we go there, of course, to get the result. We cannot go to Chelsea and have a guarantee that you will win the game, they are just too strong for that.”
It is, of course, important to note that this comes after a club-record points tally of 97 in the league last season, and five wins in five to top the table so far this term.
Therefore something must be working for Klopp’s side, and he described the record of five losses from 12 as “still a positive statistic,” and stressed that “it’s not written in the stars” that Liverpool lose at Chelsea.
“I’m not sure when it was, maybe it was 2016, when we won against pretty much all of the top six, and had all the other problems. That’s how life is!” he continued.
“We are much more successful winning all the other games and having some results [against the top six].
“[Drawing six and losing five] is still a positive statistic, actually.
“Unlucky in moments, for sure. Good performances, really good performances from the opponents in others.
“Chelsea last year was, I think, pretty late again, always pretty late away games when you came from any international games or stuff like that.
“United last year was not a thrilling game but we could have won it anyway. So different reasons, obviously.
“Obviously a job to do, but I thought we prepared for the game besides that statistic, we really focus on that game and not about the results we had until [then].
“It’s all about the quality in the performance, what can I say? It’s nothing, it’s not written in the stars that we are not allowed to win away against Chelsea.
“But it’s obviously difficult, and we should still try it.”
Fan Comments