Interviewing Jurgen Klopp the morning after Liverpool suffered a rare Europa League defeat to Atalanta at Anfield was not an ideal time.

After a sleepless night analyzing what happened and what didn’t happen Klopp Already heading into Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace: “This game is definitely a low point from a performance point of view,” he said.

“The good thing about being low is that it’s easy to improve, so you just have to take the next step and we had to show that immediately against Crystal Palace. In life and sport you can have setbacks, it all depends on you reaction.”

But after last Sunday’s draw with Manchester United, Liverpool’s back-to-back disappointing run leaves little room for swing in a three-way title race and he admitted the game at Palace had become tight.

“It would have been huge no matter what, but now considering that [the loss to Atalanta] To the outside world, it’s bigger,” he said.

“What better way to wake you up than a loud alarm clock, and apparently I could still hear it last night, so that means we should stay awake until the alarm goes off.”

With just seven Premier League games left in his tenure, the pressure is on the players – and no one wants to make a mistake that could knock Liverpool out of title contention.

Everyone is obviously nervous, but Klopp says talking is key: “We talk and remind the kids what we are really good at because we are really good at it.

“That’s why we’re in the position we’re in now, we have to prove it every day and that’s what it is now. It’s not new, it might be a little bit new for some people but that’s the more experienced players There’s a time when you have to step in and lead.” Pack on the court. “

When he led Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2020, the pandemic meant the precious trophy was lifted to an empty stadium, but Klopp doesn’t see it as a missing moment in his life.

He said: “For me, I’ve been through enough parades and parties, this has never been and never will be (about that), but I’d love to give people the opportunity to celebrate something special and I Think this is correct as well.

“I’m still happy that we’re still in this battle. I want to make sure that we really give it our all. Sometimes in life it’s the same with football, you need a proper smash to realize why you do what you do. , we got that spike and we’re going to use it.”

Having to juggle the squad this season and bring in young players to seamlessly fill the gaps will be a real challenge, but Klopp laughed and said if they can win the league it will be one of his greatest managerial achievements.

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“I don’t care if it means – does it make me a great coach? I’ve never considered myself a great coach. Never in my life,” the football manager said.

“To this day I’m surprised that people see me that way, it’s 100% true, but I accept that people see me that way.

“What’s important is that the people of Liverpool are happy with what we’ve done, that’s the only thing that matters. I don’t need to compare to Wenger or anyone else. It doesn’t mean anything to me.

“I don’t want on my tombstone ‘This is one of the most successful managers on the planet’ that you still lie three feet under. No, not for me. I want people to remember me as someone who helped people through their lives. people.”

Life after Anfield

Every game brings the 56-year-old German closer to the end of his Liverpool story.

Shocked the football world announced in january When he learned he would be quitting at the end of the season, he had no doubts about his decision, saying it was “100 percent” the right one.

So what’s his plan? holiday? gardening?

“A few things, Ulla [Klopp’s wife] Tell me – I have to take cooking and dance lessons,” he said.

“I said you don’t want me to take a break because if I do, I’m going to start working again in four weeks! I should probably learn to cook so I can at least make some breakfast or something.”

He continued: “This will be the first time in my life that I don’t know what I’m going to do, and that’s exactly what I want.”

When I asked him if he knew how to cook, he replied: “No. Do hot water and tea count?”

“I scrambled eggs during COVID, but then I forgot about it. I grew up in the Black Forest with my two sisters and the only reason I knew where the kitchen was was because the smell came from there! I was privately useless.” Life. “

I ended the interview with a hypothetical question about his send-off at Liverpool.

If he could choose an artist or band (living or dead) to play, who would he choose and what would they sing?

“This is Liverpool so it’s 100 per cent The Beatles and they could have easily chosen this song because I love them all,” he said.

“Actually, the band that’s still alive is Die Toten Hosen, which translates to The Dead Pants. It’s a punk rock band and the lead singer, Campino, is a good friend of mine and the biggest LFC supporter on the planet – that would be the biggest A day in his life.

“They sang in German so no one could understand it, but that was good,” Klopp added with a laugh.