A 4-0 home win was enough for Liverpool to finish the first week of the season at the top of the table, but the coach knows things will get tougher
Liverpool’s impressive start to the season may have some supporters talking up their title chances already, but Jurgen Klopp is under no illusions about the gruelling journey that awaits them.
The Reds mauled West Ham 4-0 on Sunday to set the tone in their first Premier League game of the new campaign, with Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge scoring either side of a Sadio Mane double.
After last season’s appearance in the Champions League and then a summer of lavish spending in the transfer market, a lot is expected of Liverpool this season.
But with Manchester City and Chelsea also off to strong starts, Klopp knows they will face bigger challenges over the course of the season.
“We know the expectations; we have expectations as well,” he told reporters.
“We realised it was a very positive atmosphere around us in pre-season. It’s good that the people can be positive but they know that this season will be unbelievably hard. That’s the only thing I want to say.
“We cannot be anything other than ‘the challenger’ because we didn’t win anything since I don’t know when – certainly since I am here. We have to invest more, we have to fight more, we have to create more. That’s what we spoke about and what we expect from ourselves.
“West Ham for sure will play a good season but they are not United or City, that’s how it is. They know that, we know that and we have to be ready week in, week out for all the different challenges. That’s the expectations. Ours is the highest but we know that.”
One of their new signings, Naby Keita, made a big impact in the midfield in his first display in the English top flight, which was no surprise to Klopp.
“Naby is in because he’s a really good footballer. He plays a similar style of play, and a similar position, to what he did at Leipzig,” he added.
“He can play different positions but I think the eight is his best for the moment.”
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