Klopp: We saw the power of positivity on Tuesday night
Jürgen Klopp feels Liverpool profited from the power of positivity as they turned in an excellent display in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield - and he wants more of the same throughout the rest of the campaign.
The Reds claimed a point against the league leaders as Georginio Wijnaldum’s second-half header cancelled out David Luiz’s opener, but their performance throughout the evening could have merited more.
Roared on by a raucous home crowd, Klopp’s side put recent frustrations firmly behind them with a high-tempo showing – and the manager believes a similarly optimistic approach over the course of the remaining 15 games of the season will be crucial.
He told reporters at Melwood: “Everyone is looking for guarantees and I cannot guarantee [anything], but I thought, and it makes sense to say, don’t forget there are still a few games to go which we can maybe win.
“It makes life in general easier, and in football especially, [if you are positive] because then you have a good feeling and a good atmosphere. Then you think ‘Yes, we can go for it.’
“That’s the situation we should create. Those who were involved in the last game on Tuesday felt the power of what positive energy can do. The atmosphere was outstanding. We can ask when it was last like this, but then when was the game last like this? That’s all true, but as long as we try everything we can have this more often.
“That doesn’t mean we can only win when the atmosphere is like this, we have to do the job always. But it helps – and everybody who wants to help is very welcome.”
LFCTV GO: Klopp's pre-Hull City press conference
Tuesday’s draw with Chelsea ensured Liverpool remained 10 points behind the Premier League’s pacesetters.
However, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United also failing to win during the midweek round of fixtures, the Reds consolodated fourth position, just one point off second.
Klopp continued: “You all know better than me about this club, what has happened in the last few years and how it always happened again and things like this. When we started here, everyone was hoping it would happen immediately – and we’ve improved a lot, but the problem in football is that other teams don’t sleep and so they can also improve. That is the challenge.
“But as I’ve said, I am 100 per cent convinced about this: this club has an outstanding power if we keep our nerve. The fight for something is always tired and always intense, especially in the end. I don’t think that Chelsea thinks they’ve played Liverpool so now it’s done. They [will] play Arsenal now – and I think Arsenal are able to win there. Then if two or three of the other teams win…
“[But] why should we think about this? It’s not important. The only thing is that if something doesn’t work and then you stop thinking positively about it, it makes no sense.
“I love being here and I know it’s a real challenge in general to be successful in this league, not only with Liverpool. It’s difficult to be successful in this league because it’s a really long trip and everyone has an opinion, everyone wants to tell this opinion – most of them on television.
“We have to stay concentrated, we have to stay in line and we have to do the job. That’s what we will do.”