Klopp explains what Liverpool must improve against Arsenal after FA Cup win
It's there in black and white as Liverpool’s stand-out result of the season - but Jurgen Klopp claims Liverpool must improve on their win at Arsenal last month.
Klopp can see beyond the impressive FA Cup scoreline and knows Mikel Arteta ’s men should have scored before Liverpool snatched victory at the end. The Reds return to the Emirates Sunday in a massive game in the title race and Klopp wants his side to have more control.
“What we learn is that we have to be much more dominant in possession,” said the Liverpool boss. “It was a typical away game. Yes, we had a few problems here and there, that’s true, and it’s a cup game, it’s all about the result.
“But I think everybody who saw the game knows that Arsenal could have scored before we scored and that could have given the game a completely different direction. I would prefer us to have more moments where we’re in charge as difficult as it is because they’re really good.”
Arsenal also drew at Anfield just before Christmas when they made a lighting start and Klopp wants his side to dominate like they did against Chelsea on Wednesday.
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“You saw it in the home game when we played,” he said. “First half they were super-physical in a good way, not kicking, really strong on the ball and they won these one-v-one situations, they won press balls, 50-50 situations, they won all that.
“But they could not cope with us for 90 minutes and probably in the second half we should have won that game.
“I try to give the boys the right information so that we can just be better. Being better means being more in the game and being more in the game means you have a bigger chance to win it.”
Liverpool beat Arsenal in the FA Cup last month but Jurgen Klopp wants to see a better performance (Getty Images)Liverpool return to north London in much better form than on their last visit four weeks ago. Their unavailable players, such as Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai, are back, while Conor Bradley has scored his first Reds goal and contributed five assists in his last four games.
Liverpool’s midfield is unrecognisable and they have 17 goals so far, compared to 13 in the whole of last season, and they have helped the Reds to the meanest defence in the league.
“The profile we wanted to sign was pretty clear,” said Klopp. “It was pretty clear we wanted to have these 8s, who can play both directions. But that won’t change anything if you have these kind of midfielders and the rest of the team aren’t defending at their absolute highest level.
“So, the main subject from the first day was we have to defend better. That means we and not they. That’s what we did. It’s much clearer again, offensive line, the way it starts, the high press, the midfield press, everywhere. We improved as a team again and found a way back to our ways.
“We had a few years where everyone wants to write a book about this player and that player, but the job is not about how good looking they are, it’s about us. So buckle up and go for it.”
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