Facing old club: Klopp unfazed by Sterling reunion
Reds manager plays down significance as Liverpool head to the City of Manchester Stadium
Sterling, 20, felt the ire of Liverpool’s supporters after rejecting a contract offer from the club at the end of last season. PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON:
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling will be one of several players facing a former club when Liverpool visit on Saturday, but Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has played down the significance of the reunion.
Sterling, 20, felt the ire of Liverpool’s supporters after rejecting a contract offer from the club at the end of last season and subsequently joined City in a deal that could be worth up to £49 million.
The England forward’s conduct was criticised by Liverpool greats including Steven Gerrard and Graeme Souness and he can expect a hostile reception from the away fans at the Etihad Stadium, but Klopp said it will be nothing that has not happened inside a football ground before.
“He played here for a long time. I’ve heard no bad words about him. Good player, good boy, so [let’s be] friendly, shake hands; then it’s football,” said Klopp.
Liverpool drew the first three games of Klopp’s reign before reeling off three successive wins, including an impressive 3-1 victory away to defending champions Chelsea on the last day in October.
But they lost 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace in their last league game before the international break and go into the weekend seven points off the Champions League places in 10th place.
Arsenal joins race with Tottenham for Corinthians striker Pato
This has allowed the chasing pack to close in and the concertina effect at the top of the table means that although City enter the weekend as leaders — above Arsenal on goal difference — they could be as low as fourth in the standings by the time the game kicks off.
The two-week international break has given Pellegrini time to recover some of his injured players and striker Sergio Aguero has revealed that he hopes to feature on Saturday after seven games out with a hamstring injury.
Aguero’s fellow striker Wilfried Bony is a doubt, but playmaker David Silva is also thought to be nearing a return after a seven-match absence with a knee problem.
Another player coming up against his former club will be James Milner and Aguero is wary of the impact that the hard-working England midfielder might have.
While City’s fans will be delighted at the prospect of seeing Aguero back in a sky blue shirt, Liverpool could also welcome back their key striker if Daniel Sturridge can prove his fitness in time.
Koscielny ‘deeply affected’ by Paris horror
Centre-back Laurent Koscielny has been deeply affected by the Paris terror attacks and may be rested for Arsenal’s visit to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, revealed manager Arsene Wenger.
Klopp message getting through at Liverpool, says Mignolet
Koscielny was part of the France team that was playing Germany at the Stade de France at the time of the attacks and while he then faced England on Tuesday, Wenger acknowledged that the player’s mind was elsewhere.
“He had a fantastic game against Germany. You could see that on Tuesday night he was not himself,” said Wenger. “It affected him deeply and I didn’t recognise the player I saw on Friday night on Tuesday night. I will talk with him [and see if] he’s completely committed and feels ready. If not, I will not play him.”
Wenger will hope that his side can return to the form that brought five successive league wins before the hard-fought draw with Tottenham Hotspur immediately prior to the international break, while West Brom suffered back-to-back defeats.
Van Gaal on back foot, Mourinho hopeful
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been forced onto the defensive following repeated criticism of his team’s lack of attacking spark.
Van Gaal’s side travel to Watford as the Premier League resumes on Saturday knowing victory will take them top of the table before their main rivals take to the field.
Call the Klopp: Chelsea look to improve Mou-d around The Bridge
But their patient style of play has frustrated some, with former United midfielder Paul Scholes among those to have questioned the approach employed by the Dutchman.
With striker Anthony Martial having left Wembley on crutches following Tuesday’s friendly between England and France, van Gaal’s attacking options may be further limited at Vicarage Road.
In any case, fourth-place United’s most impressive statistics at the moment are defensive.
They have conceded just eight goals in 12 Premier League matches — the best record in the division — and kept eight clean sheets along the way.
Watford, 11th, will be without defender Sebastien Proedl, who has been ruled out for two weeks with a calf injury sustained on international duty with Austria.
And Jose Mourinho will hope the latest international break proves to be a turning point in Chelsea’s disastrous Premier League season and refreshes struggling Belgian star Eden Hazard.
Mourinho and his players signed off from domestic duty with a defeat at Stoke City — their third successive league loss — that left the club in 16th place, a point behind Norwich City, Saturday’s visitors to Stamford Bridge, and just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2015.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling will be one of several players facing a former club when Liverpool visit on Saturday, but Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has played down the significance of the reunion.
Sterling, 20, felt the ire of Liverpool’s supporters after rejecting a contract offer from the club at the end of last season and subsequently joined City in a deal that could be worth up to £49 million.
The England forward’s conduct was criticised by Liverpool greats including Steven Gerrard and Graeme Souness and he can expect a hostile reception from the away fans at the Etihad Stadium, but Klopp said it will be nothing that has not happened inside a football ground before.
“He played here for a long time. I’ve heard no bad words about him. Good player, good boy, so [let’s be] friendly, shake hands; then it’s football,” said Klopp.
Liverpool drew the first three games of Klopp’s reign before reeling off three successive wins, including an impressive 3-1 victory away to defending champions Chelsea on the last day in October.
But they lost 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace in their last league game before the international break and go into the weekend seven points off the Champions League places in 10th place.
Arsenal joins race with Tottenham for Corinthians striker Pato
This has allowed the chasing pack to close in and the concertina effect at the top of the table means that although City enter the weekend as leaders — above Arsenal on goal difference — they could be as low as fourth in the standings by the time the game kicks off.
The two-week international break has given Pellegrini time to recover some of his injured players and striker Sergio Aguero has revealed that he hopes to feature on Saturday after seven games out with a hamstring injury.
Aguero’s fellow striker Wilfried Bony is a doubt, but playmaker David Silva is also thought to be nearing a return after a seven-match absence with a knee problem.
Another player coming up against his former club will be James Milner and Aguero is wary of the impact that the hard-working England midfielder might have.
While City’s fans will be delighted at the prospect of seeing Aguero back in a sky blue shirt, Liverpool could also welcome back their key striker if Daniel Sturridge can prove his fitness in time.
Koscielny ‘deeply affected’ by Paris horror
Centre-back Laurent Koscielny has been deeply affected by the Paris terror attacks and may be rested for Arsenal’s visit to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, revealed manager Arsene Wenger.
Klopp message getting through at Liverpool, says Mignolet
Koscielny was part of the France team that was playing Germany at the Stade de France at the time of the attacks and while he then faced England on Tuesday, Wenger acknowledged that the player’s mind was elsewhere.
“He had a fantastic game against Germany. You could see that on Tuesday night he was not himself,” said Wenger. “It affected him deeply and I didn’t recognise the player I saw on Friday night on Tuesday night. I will talk with him [and see if] he’s completely committed and feels ready. If not, I will not play him.”
Wenger will hope that his side can return to the form that brought five successive league wins before the hard-fought draw with Tottenham Hotspur immediately prior to the international break, while West Brom suffered back-to-back defeats.
Van Gaal on back foot, Mourinho hopeful
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been forced onto the defensive following repeated criticism of his team’s lack of attacking spark.
Van Gaal’s side travel to Watford as the Premier League resumes on Saturday knowing victory will take them top of the table before their main rivals take to the field.
Call the Klopp: Chelsea look to improve Mou-d around The Bridge
But their patient style of play has frustrated some, with former United midfielder Paul Scholes among those to have questioned the approach employed by the Dutchman.
With striker Anthony Martial having left Wembley on crutches following Tuesday’s friendly between England and France, van Gaal’s attacking options may be further limited at Vicarage Road.
In any case, fourth-place United’s most impressive statistics at the moment are defensive.
They have conceded just eight goals in 12 Premier League matches — the best record in the division — and kept eight clean sheets along the way.
Watford, 11th, will be without defender Sebastien Proedl, who has been ruled out for two weeks with a calf injury sustained on international duty with Austria.
And Jose Mourinho will hope the latest international break proves to be a turning point in Chelsea’s disastrous Premier League season and refreshes struggling Belgian star Eden Hazard.
Mourinho and his players signed off from domestic duty with a defeat at Stoke City — their third successive league loss — that left the club in 16th place, a point behind Norwich City, Saturday’s visitors to Stamford Bridge, and just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2015.