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Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss says no extra pressure on Premier League leaders

Last updated on .From the section Liverpoolcomments440

Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk celebrates his goal against Wolves
Liverpool remian unbeaten in the Premier League this season

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says there is "no extra pressure" on his side as they head into the second half of the season top of the Premier League.

The Reds are four points clear of champions Manchester City before 26 December's fixtures.

Klopp's side are unbeaten in the league and host Newcastle United on Wednesday (15:00 GMT kick-off).

"There's no celebration, no more happiness than before, only because now we are a few points ahead," he said.

"Obviously we have played a very good season so far and it gives us a much better basis for the second part of the season than we had last year.

"That's all. Nothing else."

The German manager said on Monday that "nobody should feel safe" in the Premier League title race and insisted Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal - who are third, fourth and fifth respectively - also remain in the hunt with 20 games to play.

We don't have to think about May - Liverpool boss Klopp

In eight of the past 10 seasons, the leaders on Christmas Day have gone on to win the Premier League.

"A lot of things can happen," added Klopp. "Always in the moment you think you're OK - then something happens and it is not OK any more.

"We all have to fight. We all have to be focused, not nervous.

"If you want to have guarantees, go for another sport. If you want to enjoy the ride, to try everything you can to be as successful as possible - welcome. Let's go for it.

"I'm really relaxed. There's no extra pressure on us because of a four-point gap. These kind of poker games we do not play."

Spurs are six points behind Liverpool after a 6-2 win at Everton on Sunday, with Chelsea and Arsenal 11 points behind the Reds.

Talking specifically about the Newcastle game and the crowd at Anfield, Klopp added: "Everyone's in Christmas mood, apart from us. We are not in a Christmas mood.

"Everyone in England wants Boxing Day games. Good. But don't be in a Christmas mood on Boxing Day - come in for those one and a half hours and and give us all that you have.

"We need again an exceptional atmosphere to beat a very difficult to beat team. Nothing is taken for granted. If you think that, then that's the moment things go wrong."

Top of the Premier League table: Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United
2018-19 is the first English top-flight season in which at least three clubs have more than 40 points by Christmas for 33 years

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440 comments

  • Comment posted by Headsroll, at 22:46 25 Dec 2018

    Man-management of the highest order. Keep the situation simple and empower the players to embrace the moment rather than feel pressure....It's no suprise his players will run through brick walls for him.....

  • Comment posted by theredbaron, at 23:13 25 Dec 2018

    I am a Manchester United fan and looking forward to them moving up the table into 3rd or 4th, however Liverpool under Klopp have been playing some magnificent football. Klopp and Liverpool are a good fit.
    Good Luck Liverpool - carry on playing like you have been, and you will deserve to win the Premier League this season.
    Like Man Utd, a team with a wonderful history.

  • Comment posted by U16644856, at 22:49 25 Dec 2018

    The strength of the teams at the top is ridiculous this season. Liverpool have not performed that well for most of the 1st half of the season going by last seasons standards but have just started to click. It is some achiemevement to be unbeaten and top of the prem by 4 points when you have not been at your best. An exciting season this will be for sure, i hope it goes all the way to the last game

  • Comment posted by S, at 23:02 25 Dec 2018

    This year it might be different for Liverpool. All league winners have a solid defence and L'pool certainly have that. They also have a potent front line and most importantly, subs that change games. Think Sturridge vs Chelsea or Shakiri vs Utd, Origi vs Everton.
    Also, this team has experience of going far in champs league so understand the pressure of expectation

  • Comment posted by ynwa 96 , at 22:44 25 Dec 2018

    4 points is not much of a gap but it does show how much Liverpool are improving and the players have the right manager to guide them. Great squad and great boss!!!!!

  • Comment posted by bartmania88, at 22:48 25 Dec 2018

    12 no bull

    so lfc are a 1 man team?so salah is the reasoning behind lfc having the tightest defence in the premiership and without doing any research at all id take a punt and say they probably have conceeded less goals than any team in any top european league.your status stinks of jealousy,either that or you know absolutly nothing about football.man u fan by any chance??

  • Comment posted by Eli , at 22:51 25 Dec 2018

    Let's all enjoy this season whilst it lasts. It's Great for every1 that gone are the days when you knew in August who would win the PL with just one team able to (afford) buy all the top players. Yes, they were good to watch but now we have 4/5 teams all who play attractive football and @ the beginning of the new year we are none the wiser who will win.

  • Comment posted by Qumph, at 23:30 25 Dec 2018

    My God I’d love us to win the league, but we’re under no delusion; 4 points in December is negligible, particularly with City away in January. But blimey, top of the league at Christmas is a very welcome present.

  • Comment posted by Darren, at 22:46 25 Dec 2018

    Title talk from the media at Christmas is awful, you can tell they have nothing to write about so they just invent things to talk about.
    Fact is anyone of those top 5 could do it and they know that and we know that. As a red who has seen all this before I’ll be happy to read about it a few games before the end. For now, I’ll enjoy the football on show.

  • Comment posted by simonk, at 22:44 25 Dec 2018

    Liverpool are truly amazing this season. And great to see Man U doing so badly.

  • Comment posted by AndyJ, at 23:53 25 Dec 2018

    Post 90 Zappa Mania

    No my friend. They live or come from Merseyside. Our worldwide supporters have supported us for decades through all the barren times. Who supported Man City or Chelsea before the money rolled in?

  • Comment posted by OGG- OrigiGoalGangsta, at 22:42 25 Dec 2018

    If we keep as cool as Virgil, we'll be nicely surprised. This is the best LFC team I've seem for a long, long time. Not since the early years of Torres have I felt we could finally bag the league, but we've been here before & it's hard not to be cynical about our chances.

    Hopefully City push us all the way & we deservedly lift the title in May. For now, enjoy the football. Bring on the Rafa!

  • Comment posted by pinewood, at 22:44 25 Dec 2018

    Love the resentment makes every win so much sweeter.

  • Comment posted by Hope in my Heart, at 23:54 25 Dec 2018

    90 - Zappa - they do live in London - my son lives there - I live on Merseyside which is shared by LFC & EFC - the reality is that is that LFC have millions of fans - they are everywhere

  • Comment posted by U17400138, at 11:50 26 Dec 2018

    I'm a Saints fan.

    Can we all just agree?

    We hate Man U

  • Comment posted by pistol, at 22:40 25 Dec 2018

    Looks like it will be a humdinger if second half of the season, still twists and surprises to come, let’s hope it is won rather than lost and we don’t have any dodgy decisions or outside influences

  • Comment posted by davidindevon, at 23:44 25 Dec 2018

    Now that we, thankfully, no longer have to listen to the torrid and turgid bleatings of Mourinho how good is it to read this commonsense statement from Mr Klopp? Mr Pochettino is another manager who has earned a similar level of respect for his utterings. I want my team, LFC to win the PL of course but if it is not to be then the team that does will have earned it. I hope you all had a great Xmas

  • Comment posted by Redclassix, at 10:09 26 Dec 2018

    I've got no real problem with people dwelling on history. Memories can provide solace and comfort in difficult times (e.g. MU fans).
    But history is, well, history. Reality is here and now and my football reality is illustrated by the PL table.
    The job, as JK unfailingly says, is to focus on the next match and do our best to win it.
    I'm happy with that, especially with the way we are playing.

  • Comment posted by Chuffy Mc, at 22:40 25 Dec 2018

    I agree with him. We are top but that just means we are doing better at the halfway point than we did last season. We have to treat every match like it is the decider for the title or any mistakes will see one of our rivals overhaul us.

  • Comment posted by derek n clive, at 22:37 25 Dec 2018

    good luck lads...its only half time...he knows that..we go again

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