Jurgen Klopp said Jose Mourinho had turned Tottenham into a results machine as the first league Liverpool champions prepare for their first meeting with the leaders at Anfield on Wednesday.
The tracks come into play for Liverpool on goal difference. Both teams took 25 points out of 12 games this season and were able to move away from Klopp’s side if they won, boosting their hopes of claiming their first division title since 1961.
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The revival of Tottenham led by Mourinho has led to allegations that the manager of Spurs has reversed his resignation as head of Manchester United – Mourinho was fired on the 17th. December 2018 postponed, less than 24 hours after the 3-1 defeat at Anfield.
But while Klopp rejected the departure of Mourinho, he said that the former coach of Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid had transformed Tottenham since he took over the baton from Mauricio Pochettino 13 months ago.
He [Mourinho] turned the Spurs into a results machine, Klopp said at a press conference. That’s the way it is. They have achieved results with good performance and when they are not at their best, they win and defend collectively. All these things, so they’re very impressive.
I’m not surprised [that Mourinho was expelled after leaving United], that’s the world we live in. You were very successful until yesterday, because if you don’t win today, people will laugh at you.
It’s true, and I don’t think he was surprised, but he showed that he can come back – if it’s a comeback at all – because it’s very impressive what he did at Tottenham and how well they’re playing this year.
Fault! The file name is not specified. Jurgen Klopp’s side can take a three-point lead over their opponents of the day, Spurs, with a victory in Anfield on Wednesday. Photo: Lawrence Griffiths/Getty Images
I’m not surprised by their evolution. I see many similarities with us in the way they organize, set up and play soccer. When you watch their games, they make a good football team and play good football.
You see Harry Kane as Bobby Firmino, two attackers, a very aggressive midfielder like [Tanguy] Ndombele and [Giovani] Lo Celso. They’re playing soccer. You can’t be at the top of the league if you’re just fighting.
Kane and Son Heung-min will enter the game on Wednesday after scoring 12 goals this season.
But Klopp believes that the Spurs are now a complete team, rather than one that only depends on the goals of the two main strikers.
Unfortunately, if we keep them [Kane and Sons] quiet, they still have a lot of great players, Klopp added. It’s now a real team, with good players in many areas all over the field.
Bergwijn plays an important role, Ndombela needed some more time to settle in Tottenham but she is now 100% and shares the job with Lo Celso and Moussa Sissoko. Pierre-Emile Heubjerg is on board, so they’re a suitable unit in midfield.
It’s all right. Besides, Hugo Lloris is the best guard. They do their job well, and if you play Tottenham, you must of course be aware that Kane has little in common with Son.
Their relationship has stood the test of time, but there are also many good things to say about Tottenham. You’re in a very good time. That’s the way it is.
Meanwhile, Klopp added that Liverpool’s injury problems don’t seem to diminish, with only Joel Matip and Naby Keita having a chance to play on Wednesday.
Matip had a back cramp but worked with the physio, so we’ll see, Klopp said. Nabi might be ready. He had a long warm-up time on Monday, so we’re gonna take a look at it with him. The others? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
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