The tackle that inspired Liverpool’s comprehensive Barclays Premier League victory over Manchester City in midweek also made its mark on Jürgen Klopp, with the Liverpool manager urging his players to “get angry”.
Jon Flanagan’s challenge in the first minute on Raheem Sterling, a friend and former team-mate who left Anfield last summer, drew vocal approval from Liverpool fans. Klopp is keen to harness that edge at Selhurst Park tomorrow when Liverpool seek to avenge the defeat by Crystal Palace in the German’s first home game in November.
“Anger in a sport is good,” said Klopp. “Against Crystal Palace, there is a reason to strike back. We should not have lost that game. There are a lot of reasons to be angry. Crystal Palace were a really physical side. They will give you, in the first two minutes, 500 reasons to be angry.
“We need physicality. You can’t go to Crystal Palace and say ‘we will play a little bit of football’. I hope we will be like that in future. I really believe in this team. We have to be angry.”
The manager, a natural optimist, nevertheless declined to declare “belief” that his team could yet claim the final Champions League qualifying place, but has outlined a “mini-league” target for his players that could yield an end-of-season dividend.
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“We can only go in the top four if the others makes mistakes,” Klopp said.