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Klopp expects warm welcome for Rodgers on Liverpool return
LONDON, Oct 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Jurgen Klopp believes Brendan Rodgers will
receive a warm welcome on his first return to Anfield as an opposition
manager but is warning that Leicester will ensure it is “not a friendly
game”.
Almost four years to the day since being sacked by Liverpool, the Northern
Irishman will bring his high-flying Foxes to Merseyside for a top-of-the-
table encounter.
“The reception will be good, from my side and from the supporters I think
as well, but still it is not a friendly game and that’s what we want to make
sure,” the Liverpool boss said at his pre-match conference on Friday.
“We are there to perform as well and hopefully that’s what we will do.”
Leicester head into the weekend after a 5-0 victory over Newcastle United
at the King Power Stadium last Sunday.
Liverpool are top of the table with a perfect seven wins out of seven
Premier League matches this season and are on a winning run of 16 consecutive
league matches.
Klopp praised former Celtic boss Rodgers for the job he was doing at
Leicester, who are third in the Premier League table, seven points behind
Liverpool.
Asked whether the Foxes had the potential to challenge for a spot in the
top four, Klopp replied: “It looks like, 100 per cent. It looks like. There
is no difference to other top-six teams apart from maybe the name.”
“Of course, it is not forbidden to show up in the top four,” he added.
“There are no reservations made and everyone who is ready for that will fight
for it. And they will fight for it until the end.”
If Liverpool are to extend their winning run, Klopp knows nullifying the
threat of Jamie Vardy could be key.
The striker has scored seven times in nine appearances against the Reds
and already has five in the Premier League so far this season for Leicester.
“In general he is an incredible player, for years already, and if he gets
the service he will be a proper threat and we have to make sure that will not
happen that often. It works in the first place to avoid these passes,” said
Klopp.
“We know about his speed obviously, but it is more about timing, so we
need to be in the right place at the right moment to defend him. There is no
alternative to that.”
BSS/AFP/SSS/2039 hrs