Liverpool can play against parked buses: Klopp

Expressing satisfaction over the improvement in his team since he took over, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has asserted that the English Premier League (EPL) is well equipped to tackle the most defensive teams.

Liverpool's improved form has seen them score the most number of goals in this year's EPL so far, finding the net 32 times in 13 matches for a goal difference of 18.

They beat an extremely defensive Sunderland 2-0 last Saturday. They had earlier thrashed Watford 6-1 and had thumped Crystal Palace 4-2.

"There is no doubt this team is ready to play against parked buses. We have all the skills but you need to be patient. If you score early -- and you saw it, if we scored the first goal, then we get the second, the third, the fourth or whatever -- that's how it is. That opens the game.

"It's about the timing of when you get the first one. And the longer you don't, the most important thing is you don't get frustrated because we need to get used to situations like this," Klopp was quoted as saying by the Guardian on Sunday.

Liverpool are at the second spot on the EPL points table. They currently have 30 points from 13 matches, trailing current league leaders Chelsea by a single point.

"Last year the games were different. Last year of course a few teams played defensively against us but, this time, because we are better, we have forced them into situations like this. I'm sure, for example, Victor Anichebe is not a left-back and shouldn't be playing there," Klopp said.

"But obviously there is no one else there to do the job for Sunderland so he's trying to stop Clyney (Nathaniel Clyne). If you want to say it, it's our fault teams are playing that deep but we can improve a lot and we are ready for teams doing that," he added.

Liverpool will play their next EPL tie against West Ham United at home on December 11.

--IANS

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