Jurgen Klopp has spoken to the press this morning ahead of Liverpool’s trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United on Sunday.
Quite often recently, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has seemed to have a bit of a bee in his bonnet about Newcastle, picking them out to reinforce any kind of negative point he’s trying to make, but today he was actually complimentary.
Speaking ahead of the clash on Sunday, Klopp spoke highly of Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and the business he’s done in this transfer window, pointing out two moves in particular that he thinks have improved Newcastle.
Klopp. Newcastle. Compliments? Wow!
“Newcastle is an incredibly strong team,” said Klopp. “Qualified for the Champions League, fully deserved. Super development under Eddie Howe, I must say. Smart business. Two standouts are [Sandro] Tonali and [Harvey] Barnes, really good. Super intense style. Massive atmosphere, so this is a tough one.”
Eddie Howe has the best chance in a long time to end Newcastle’s dismal run of bad results against Liverpool and it seems like Jurgen Klopp is also very aware of that.
Klopp’s new-look midfield are still trying to work out how each other plays and their defence has looked pretty shaky recently too, so there will never be a better time for Newcastle to exploit them.
Barnes could have a huge impact against Liverpool on Sunday
Sandro Tonali will be a key figure for Newcastle on Sunday alongside Bruno Guimaraes who will probably feel he will have a point to prove after his outburst on social media this week.
Whether the aforementioned Barnes will get the nod ahead of Anthony Gordon remains to be seen, but it seems Klopp is wary of his talent and it could be best to use him as an impact sub when Liverpool are fading to get maximum impact.
It sounds like Klopp is nervous ahead of this one and so he should be. Now is our time.
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