Jürgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has leapt to the defence of his Liverpool players, insisting they should not be judged compared to past campaigns.

Take the things and go again, that's what we will do. You can see it two ways: we didn't win, that sounds negative. "We keep going. "This will not be the season that everybody when you have the history books and say 'let's have a look at that season again and again and again'. We didn't. We have to keep going.

Klopp was surely hoping for a statement performance from the Reds at Selhurst Park following their 5-2 Champions League capitulation against Real Madrid earlier ...

Unsurprisingly, Klopp's interview hasn't gone down well with fans on Twitter who appear to be growing tired of his increasingly flimsy 'excuses' for Liverpool's poor form. If you have three games in a week or two games it's a big difference," insisted the 55-year-old. Still competing for silverware on all four fronts, Erik ten Hag's men have often had to play three times in the space of a week - and will compete no less than seven times over the next 23 days, starting with Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Newcastle. Agonisingly, though, the French striker saw his left-footed shot thunder off the crossbar. "It's physical. In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Klopp was asked how the midweek defeat to Real Madrid had affected his side on their return to Premier League action, with the reporter suggesting that Liverpool 'had looked like a team trying to recover a little bit'.

The Reds played without Darwin Nunez, who was out of the lineup with a shoulder injury. But Jurgen Klopp believed that Jota could match Nunez's runs. “Diogo ...

Absolutely OK, he can play better of course, but that’s how it is, that’s what we have to go through and that’s what we do.” “Diogo is, of course, a different player to Darwin, but it’s not about that - Diogo can play between the lines and can offer as well in behind. But one positive development was the return of Diogo Jota from injury, after a long break on the sidelines.

Jurgen Klopp has praised Diogo Jota after his performance for Liverpool against Crystal Palace on Saturday night.

Before that he was injured as well, so he came back from international duty for pre-season, he had no pre-season, he was injured, then he played a few games really good and then he was injured again. Absolutely OK, he can play better of course, but that’s how it is, that’s what we have to go through and that’s what we do,” he added. [Diogo Jota](/en-gb/topic/diogo-jota/) after his performance for Liverpool against Crystal Palace on Saturday night.

The Liverpool boss and his Crystal Palace counterpart both gave their thoughts to the media following their sides 0-0 draw.

"This is one of the frustrations in this game and of the season so far. "It all depends on him and how much he want to be the best. I think we started the second half a bit slow and they were much better, but it was important for us not to concede in this difficult period." [Mohamed Salah](https://www.vavel.com/en/data/mohamed-salah) saw his curling effort cannon back off the crossbar before [Cody Gakpo](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/13/premier-league/1137669-liverpool-2-0-everton-gakpo-scores-as-reds-earn-merseyside-bragging-rights.html)’s effort was saved later on in the second half. But he is passionate about the game and he loves it, so we just have to help him grow." [Jurgen Klopp](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/13/premier-league/1137689-klopp-admits-everton-win-was-a-massive-relief.html) and his side, the German remained relatively positive in his post-match interview. In the end its an away point and it's ok, its not brilliant, but it's ok." ”I think it was one of his best performances yet. Trent [Alexander-Arnold] plays all the games so that makes it really tricky. I think he was really good tactically, defensively and he was really smart. I did not take him off because he was bad, I took him off because he plays all the games and we had to change him." [Liverpool](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/18/premier-league/1138173-four-things-we-learnt-from-liverpools-win-over-newcastle.html) dominated possession at [Selhurst Park,](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/25/premier-league/1138889-crystal-palace-0-0-liverpool-dull-goalless-draw-showcases-both-teams-shortcomings.html) but did not manage to test [Vicente Guaita](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/01/21/premier-league/1135408-crystal-palace-0-0-newcastle-united-magpies-frustrated-in-selhurst-park-draw.html) in the [Crystal Palace](https://www.vavel.com/en/data/crystal-palace) goal on too many occasions.

Poor performances this season have suggested that Klopp needs to be more ruthless, but the problems of his rivals prove that it's not that simple.

The question is knowing whose decline is temporary and whose is terminal. [altar of Jude Bellingham](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-transfer-jude-bellingham-klopp-26053737), the reality is that Liverpool can't sell all of them. The German's reluctance to move on from his tried and trusted group has been derided as misguided loyalty, but there is more to it than that. Allowing the trio to leave for Chelsea and Arsenal respectively suggested they were surplus to requirements. Antonio Rüdiger (54 games), Marcos Alonso (46), Romelu Lukaku (44), Timo Werner (37) and Andreas Christensen (34) all featured in more than 50 per cent of Chelsea's 63 games in 21/22. Still, with so much attacking impetus from full-back, alongside center-backs with the ability and license to advance the ball into forward areas, a Klopp midfielder has much to learn and a crucial part to play. For Thiago and Curtis Jones, the struggles are getting on the pitch thanks to persistent injuries. Liverpool hasn't been faultless in defense or attack, but the midfield has been the catalyst for most of this season's ills. Four of the 10 other players who have played there so far this season are out of contract this summer. The young Spaniard may be the only midfielder currently assured of his status within the team next year. Lackluster performances against Real Madrid and Crystal Palace — off the back of improvements in victories over Everton and Newcastle United — have suggested that Fabinho and Henderson can no longer play three games a week at the level required. As Liverpool's form this season has lurched from inconsistent to non-existent, discussions around new players have never been far away.

Chelsea and Liverpool are both in a torrid run of form.

But he admitted that is the nature of the job and hinted the same could happen at Liverpool. That is the nature of football. They want to do better and want to win. Potter said: "There is always that question, absolutely, and you can’t stop the questions. Following the 5-2 midweek defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, they played out a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Chelsea have particularly struggled in front of goal, scoring just once in their current winless run.

Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah both hit the woodwork but Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta also struck the crossbar and Patrick Vieira's side were well worth ...

We have to help him as a club to grow. He’s just got on with the job We had a couple of good chances. Those chances are there, we just need to score those goals. “We had chances. “I liked the start to the game. I’m really proud with the attitude they showed today.” We have to stop that. “The longer the game went on the more Crystal Palace came up. I didn’t take him off because he was bad, but he plays all the games so I had to change.” It’s really similar to all the games we’ve played here in recent years. “I didn’t see a massive influence [from the Real Madrid game].