Jurgen Klopp’s goal is to ensure Liverpool are ready to perform at their best against AFC Bournemouth, not the plan of going top of the Premier League.
Liverpool will visit the Vitality Stadium on Saturday knowing that victory would lift them above Manchester City for a few hours at least, with Pep Guardiola’s team taking on Chelsea later in the day.
Klopp’s primary concern, however, is the immediate task of overcoming seventh-placed Bournemouth, not the wider context of the league standings.
Klopp stated during Friday’s pre-match press conference:
“I don’t think Man City feel any pressure, they don’t look like that and that’s not the first target - the first target is to perform on the highest level because it’s needed against Bournemouth.
“They play a fantastic season and it’s just an outstanding job what Eddie Howe is doing there, so it will be difficult enough. But of course I know every player knows about it so I don’t have to mention it, it’s clear.
“But it’s a tough one. Bournemouth is really in a good moment, even if they’ve lost a few games. I know that, but who saw the games saw it was always really, really hard work for the opponent because they are so good organised and so good in counter-attacks [and] full of confidence.
“I think the strangest game was the one against Huddersfield. Huddersfield played a really good game and gave them a proper game, but at the end they still lost and Bournemouth won. It’s a big job to do and that we could be first in the table is nice, but it will probably only last a few hours.”
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