Premier League: Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC seek redemption as they face Chelsea
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC will be looking to revive their Premier League title hopes when they take on table toppers Chelsea on Wednesday.
For the first time since he arrived at Liverpool FC, Jurgen Klopp is in the midst of a crisis to the extent that a win on Tuesday at home to Premier League leaders Chelsea is obligatory.
The 49-year-old charismatic German -- who replaced Brendan Rodgers in November 2015 -- has seen his side knocked out of two Cup competitions inside a week and a further loss to Chelsea FC would be the first time since 1923 they have lost four successive games at Anfield and only the second time in their 125-year history.
However victory over Antonio Conte’s side would reduce the gap between them to seven points whilst should Arsenal beat out of form Watford and their north London rivals Spurs beat bottom side Sunderland they would be just five and six points off the leaders respectively.
Klopp, though, accepts some confidence has seeped away from his side with just one win in eight games in January and the free-flowing, eye-catching football they were playing seems a distant memory.
“We spoke about confidence a few months ago and I said it’s a little flower,” said Klopp, who hopes to have joint-top scorer Sadio Mane at the very least on the bench after he returned from Africa Cup of Natins duty with Senegal.
“If something bounces on it, then it’s away. Obviously, that happened kind of, but it’s not that we play without confidence.
“I can see a lot of moments when we really still believe in our skills and all that stuff. So we don’t have to make it too big, but it’s not that difficult.
“It’s not that I say there’s no chance until Tuesday to make a real turn.
“Somebody asked me a second ago if this is the lowest point of my Liverpool time until now -- I don’t know. But if it is, it’s the perfect point to turn because it’s not possible to go lower. That’s all we have to think about now.
“It is a home game against the leader of the league and we need everyone for the game.”
Conte’s side arrive bursting with confidence and with the Italian hoping to deal a huge mental blow to his opponents.
Since they lost consecutive Premier League games to Liverpool and Arsenal in September, they have won 17 of 19 games in all competitions since but perhaps face a pivotal week as regards the title race with Tuesday’s game followed by a home match with Arsenal.
“It could be a hard hit mentally for them (if Liverpool lose to Chelsea),” said Conte on Monday.
“It’s important to win this type of game, increase your confidence, take three points from a rival,”