Jurgen Klopp has called on his Liverpool players to be angry in the game against Hull City and hopes to overcome the Tigers’ ‘park-the-bus’ tactics.
Liverpool and Hull City have both enjoyed reasonably good starts to the season as they sit in 6th and 12th position on the league table. The Reds had a few minor hindrances against Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur, but apart from that it has been pretty smooth sailing for them.
At the start of the season, Klopp would have welcomed a game against Hull City with open arms. However, things will be a bit different this time around, given what Mike Phelan has achieved with his side this term.
Going into the game, the Liverpool boss has been slightly critical of Hull City’s approach towards games, but believes his players can still manage to get the job done against a stubborn Tigers side.
According to the Liverpool Echo, the German manager said:
“We are still working on trying to find solutions. It’s a simple game but it’s difficult to win. It’s not about celebrating ourselves.
“Yes we need to be angry v Hull. They want our points. We have to think about why people think we have problems against bus parking.
“It will be difficult. But if we accept before that it is difficult then we can perform and that is what we should do. We have to go to Anfield on Saturday afternoon in the most positive mood we have ever been in. I know we will ready.”
Ironically, the Reds have struggled against smaller sides and have often found themselves underestimating their opposition. They have marched past the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea but have struggled against sides like Burnley.
Despite bookmakers giving the Tigers only an outside chance, there still might be a bit of animosity among the Liverpool faithful. According to Jack Rothborn of the Mirror, the Reds have won just once in the last seven meetings against Hull. They have dropped points to the Tigers in both the 2008/09 and 2013/14 seasons and have proven to be costly.
