Liverpool failed to put up a performance in pre-season matches doing injustice to the reputation of the team. They have struggled to perform as a unit. However, manager Jurgen Klopp seems determined to come up against Manchester City as a much-improved side.
Klopp emphasised that the Reds would be a “different animal” when they come out to play against Manchester City.
Notably, Liverpool experienced a 3-0 defeat to Napoli in the penultimate friendly match ahead of the 2019-20 season. The result has extended their winless run to four matches.
Players like Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Roberto Firmino will be back with the team on Monday and their addition may very well help Liverpool get back on the winning track.
Klopp admitted that it had been an unusual pre-season so far for the Liverpool. However, he believed that they would come out with their best game in their next match at Wembley.
“Missing six players is strange. That you lose players during a pre-season, we are used to – that happened from time to time,” he told a news conference.
“But that they don’t start from the beginning and come a couple of days before or after we start with the season is not cool. Again, that’s how it is and we prepared everybody as good as possible.
“We have to fight the start of the season 100 per cent with all we have. The good thing is, if the opponents want to analyse us now, they think ‘easy job’, but we will be a different animal next week.”
Although Liverpool has gone to concede ten goals so far, Klopp has stated that had Liverpool managed to register comfortable wins, it would be a worse scenario.
“I think the worst thing that could have happened is if we had won all the games without the six players – 4-0 or 5-0 against Napoli and Sevilla, then everybody would be flying from last year and into the new season, then getting the problems in the season. That would have been the worst thing,” he said.
“But between the worst thing and that now would have been a few levels I would have preferred. I knew before we started that it would be exceptionally difficult because of the situation.
“We have to adapt to a few things and we have to create a specific spirit. For this, we have a week’s time.
“For the first time since the Champions League final we have 99 per cent of the squad tomorrow [Monday]. Only Sadio is missing then, and that’s the moment where we really start talking and preparing a couple of things and then we have to go again.”