MX23RW : Wednesday, May 15 19:57:08| >> :120:7807:7807:

Jurgen Klopp: 'Liverpool in good shape ahead of new campaign'

Jurgen Klopp: 'Liverpool in good shape'
© SilverHub
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp urges his players to take it one game at a time as they balance Premier League fixtures with a Champions League qualifier.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he is feeling "really excited" ahead of the new campaign following an impressive set of pre-season results.

The Reds finished in a Champions League spot last term for just the second time in eight years, setting up a playoff qualifier against Hoffenheim later this month.

Liverpool rounded off their unbeaten summer programme with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday, adding to previous victories over Bayern Munich, Leicester City and Crystal Palace.

Klopp has warned his players that they must take it one game at a time when the real business gets up and running, though, starting with their Premier League opener against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

"When we finished last season in fourth position everybody was really happy about it - it was really a good result for a big effort," he told reporters. "We knew also there would be a qualification game, and now it is coming up.

"But the first challenge we have to face is playing Watford, even though everybody is thinking about the Champions League qualifiers. So Watford is the first target, and we have a few more days to prepare for this game.

"We are in a good shape. The players are in a good mood, the attitude in all the training sessions was really good - yes, there have been one or two little injuries and one bigger, but that is how life is.

"We showed it in Dublin again that we are in a good shape. So everything is in a good way - but of course now we have to deliver, and we know that, so we are ready for it. The freshness is coming back. We are really excited."

Liverpool also face Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Anfield in the opening month of the league season.

ID:304543: cacheID:304543:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2748:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk in action during his side's Premier League clash with Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Van Dijk 'wants Liverpool over Chelsea'
>
Read more about Jurgen Klopp Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37277393336088
2Arsenal37275589286186
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs371961271611063
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!