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On The Ball | Liverpool are well on their way to becoming ‘invincibles’, but Jurgen Klopp couldn’t care less
- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp won’t entertain talk of outlasting the famous ‘invincible’ Arsenal side
- Klopp’s focus is purely on silverware
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Liverpool are irresistible but the next question is whether they are invincible. Jurgen Klopp does not care either way. His target is the Premier League trophy. Emulating Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003-04 season is low on his list of priorities.
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Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” have gone down in English football legend as the only team in the modern era to complete a campaign without losing. Preston North End avoided defeat in 1888-89 but in a 22-match season. Klopp is rewriting the record books.
Arsenal won 26 times on their way to the title 16 years ago. Liverpool have racked up 23 victories and one draw so far. In January. The German has normalised the unprecedented.
After sweeping West Ham United aside 2-0 at the London Stadium this week Klopp shrugged off complements about the performance. “I wish we had played better but I’ll take it like it is,” the 52-year-old said. “If it was easy to win this number of games, other teams would have won them.”
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When questions turned to the potential this team have to smash records, Klopp was dismissive. When his Borussia Dortmund side won the Bundesliga with a new points high in 2012, the mark did not last long. “Bayern [Munich] beat it the next season,” he said sardonically.
Who can beat Liverpool, though? Klopp will go flat out until the title is sewn up and then priorities will shift to the Champions League. Trophies and the development of the younger players in the squad will take precedence over extending the unbeaten streak. Southampton, who visit Anfield tomorrow, are the sort of team that could fashion an upset in front of the Kop. In the reverse fixture in August, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were significantly superior in the first half. Liverpool could have been three goals down at the break but a Sadio Mane strike just before half-time changed the complexion of the game and visiting side were worth their 2-1 victory.
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