By Daily Sports on June 21, 2020

Jurgen Klopp is confident his Liverpool side can pick up where they left off before the suspension of the Premier League but stresses that football is “not like riding a bike”.

The Reds were enjoying one of the best campaigns in Premier League history when the league was halted in March.

They go into Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton 22 points clear at the top and two wins away from the title.

“I expect us to be in a good shape,” said Klopp.

“I don’t know if we are 100% but Everton have had the same time [off]. It is all about being ready to face problems in a game and finding solutions.

“In nine weeks not doing anything you can lose almost anything. The players trained every day but we don’t train them for a specific moment as we had no idea until a week before that training would start again.

“Training is completely different if you just want to keep fit or be in the best shape for a specific day. We kept them fit until we knew until we go again and the boys don’t lose a lot.

“Unfortunately it is not like riding a bike. We have to bring 11 or more players together to have the same idea in the same moment.”

Sunday’s is the 236th Merseyside derby and comes 103 days since Liverpool last played, in their home second leg against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, which saw them exit the tournament they won the previous May.

Two wins will give them a first top-flight title since 1990.

They face an Everton side that have not beaten them in 21 attempts in all competitions - a record run for either side in this fixture.

“Everton will be highly motivated,” said Klopp. “Starting a derby in a normal season would be interesting, and now it is our short season it is very interesting.

“It is a special game for different reasons.” (BBC)

•PHOTO: Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 21, 2020

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