Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool motivated by fans not 'Holy Grail' of title win

Last updated on 21 April 2019.From the section Liverpool606

Liverpool were unbelievable - Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his players are not motivated by the "Holy Grail" of the Premier League title but by the club's supporters.

The Anfield club have not won the title since 1990 but went back to the top with a 2-0 win in Cardiff. They are two points clear of Manchester City.

"If you are only motivated to win the Holy Grail, then something is wrong with you," said Klopp.

"We want to win football games because we enjoy the ride with the fans."

Second-half goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner gave Klopp's side a deserved win in south Wales that took them to their highest Premier League points total of 88.

City can go back top if they beat rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford in their game in hand on Wednesday (20:00 BST kick-off).

Liverpool's best Premier League seasons
Points	Season	Final position	Top scorer	Manager
88*	2018-19	N/A	Mohamed Salah (23)*	Jurgen Klopp
86	2008-09	2nd	Steven Gerrard (24)	Rafael Benitez
84	2013-14	2nd	Luis Suarez (31)	Brendan Rodgers
82	2005-06	3rd	Steven Gerrard (23)	Rafael Benitez
80	2001-02	2nd	Michael Owen (29)	Gerard Houllier
76	2007-08	4th	Fernando Torres (33)	Rafael Benitez
76	2016-17	4th	Philippe Coutinho (14)	Jurgen Klopp
75	2017-18	4th	Mohamed Salah (44)	Jurgen Klopp
* season ongoing

Klopp said: "In the end, we will see how many points we have and then we get what we get.

"We are motivated to play for this club. We have no influence on the other games, it is how it is. Our next game is against Huddersfield, which will be difficult again for different reasons.

"Some people up in Liverpool might ask us if we are thinking about Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. We will be completely focused on Huddersfield.

"On Wednesday, there is a game as well [between Manchester United and Manchester City]. When we played Manchester United, they were in a much better moment than they are now and that was 0-0."

Klopp was unhappy - as was counterpart Neil Warnock - that Cardiff had not watered the pitch during the game, but said his side had prepared for that.

"The ball didn't roll like normal. Everybody saw it," he said. "It doesn't make football easy when the pitch is dry.

"Dry pitches are dangerous for players injury-wise. I don't know exactly why the pitch was dry - but we were prepared.

"We trained yesterday for one hour and 10 minutes on a bone-dry pitch just to get used to it."

Race for the Premier League title
Date	Liverpool fixtures	Date	Man City fixtures
		24 April	Manchester United (A)
26 April	Huddersfield (H)	28 April	Burnley (A)
4 May	Newcastle (A)	6 May	Leicester (H)
12 May	Wolves (H)	12 May	Brighton (A)

.view-comments-button-wrapped-component {display: block !important;} .view-comments-button-wrapper {display: none !important;}

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

606 comments

Comment posted by Diddy, at 08:56 22 Apr 2019
My money was on Man City to win at the start of the season and still is but with each passing week I think it’s more likely that I’m going to lose the bet but I really would like to see Liverpool win the title. A remarkable achievement given that the other team are bankrolled by a nation state.
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 08:56 22 Apr 2019
Both Liverpool and City have played some brilliant football this season. Both teams have goals all over their squads and every player knows his job. They have provided brilliant entertainment and some classic games. City v Spurs in the CL a classic. Liverpool v Barcelona a footballers dream match. A fight to the wire for the PL title by two outstanding teams make the PL pure entertainment.
Comment posted by The Truth is, at 08:51 22 Apr 2019
And to think on Wednesday night for the first time in 52 years I will be a Utd supporter! (not that it’ll help based on their performance at Everton!)
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 08:49 22 Apr 2019
The title race will go all the way to the wire. Great credit to Liverpool and City for making a real battle of it. Liverpool have been outstanding this season and have time and again stepped up when it mattered. They have some key players like Virgil Van Dijk who should get player of the year. He has been rock solid in defence and time and again has made the difference. Brilliant Premiership.
Comment posted by The-Artful-Dodga, at 09:00 22 Apr 2019
It's good that we have a title race to talk about. If it weren't for Liverpool we would be discussing how Man City were already champions and how far ahead they are. It's a great battle, let's enjoy it.
Comment posted by Razor Sharpster, at 09:03 22 Apr 2019
City's quality is not under question. Last season they finished 19 points ahead of ManU in second. The fact LFC haven't made it a stroll for them again is testament to the belief Klopp has installed in them.

If LFC don't win the league, the fact they & City are on a whole level above is satisfying for LFC fans.

If we do win it, it will be as deserved as City. A lot of people don't like that!
Comment posted by billbo, at 09:00 22 Apr 2019
Klopp is a fantastic manager, Liverpool's points tally proves this. If ManC win all remaining games, they will be worthy winners of the Premier.
Klopp is correct about the fans, Liverpool are still one of the most supported teams in the world, even though it's been near 3 decades since they won the title.
Comment posted by kieranthegod, at 08:53 22 Apr 2019
I think it's so petty of my fellow Arsenal fans hoping for anyone Ajax and Barcelona wins out of sheer, unadulterated, petty jealousy. It doesn't matter if they would do the same if we were in their position... I want teams who represent England to do well regardless.
Comment posted by truthseeker1980, at 11:06 22 Apr 2019
As a Utd and football fan, supported them since the early 80s, (not since 92-93 onwards) I have to be honest here and say how Liverpool have got themselves up to the standard they are now, Liverpool have done it the hard way, they've slowly put together bit by bit, a really top team who work hard and play for each other, the club and fans and play great attacking football. Fair play to them.
Comment posted by Phreckles, at 09:09 22 Apr 2019
When did it become acceptable for players to bear-hug opposition in the penalty box to stop them? This is football, not rugby
Comment posted by D1679305580099, at 08:48 22 Apr 2019
keep it up JK.Good luck.
Comment posted by loopy, at 08:51 22 Apr 2019
The BBC news team on the TV scoffed at Klopp’s comment today but you only have to look at the tremendous support, come rain or shine, that this team has to know that what he says is true. Trophies etc are just the icing on the cake and discerning fans, as opposed to glory hunters, understand this.
Comment posted by LFC Klopp, at 08:55 22 Apr 2019
A refreshing change to see a genuine title race, a genuine cluster of teams for top four and a relegation scrap.
Comment posted by Smerfnterf, at 09:12 22 Apr 2019
1 loss and potentially 97 points and still not guaranteed title.. whatever happens us UTD fans have no bragging rights and nothing to gloat about, Liverpool sadly are streets ahead and will be for several seasons to come
Comment posted by napoleons army, at 09:02 22 Apr 2019
Dont support either team but I would rather see liverpool win it, city have won it few times, be nice to see someone new win it also I think liverpool have been the best team in the league, only losing one game so far is a great achievement.
Comment posted by D1679569150447, at 08:54 22 Apr 2019
City or Liverpool? Either way it's us neutrals who win. What a fantastic battle for the title!
Comment posted by LiverpoolFCLOL, at 10:07 22 Apr 2019
Although I’m a strong Utd fan, you can’t help but admire Liverpool. They have the best stadium atmosphere and their fans really get behind them. Sometimes Old Trafford is like a Library.

GGMU
Comment posted by TheKelvinator, at 08:54 22 Apr 2019
If we end up 2nd we’ll have the unfortunate stat of having the highest and third highest points total for coming 2nd: still a great improvement on last few years and I’d still be proud of the club for getting this far this quickly with Klopp (& an unhealthy dollop of cash)!
Comment posted by RedRebel54, at 10:16 22 Apr 2019
146. Posted by JuliusCeasarWasASocialist
I'm motivated by their fans as well. That's why I want Liverpool to fail horribly and bottle the title.

Really nasty people.
~~~~
That's a mighty broad brush you have there Julius, especially considering you have such a narrow mind.
Comment posted by LuThe, at 10:58 22 Apr 2019
212. jol

Liverpool's biggest game of the season... the Manchester derby
---

I think you'll find that City's biggest game of the sesason.

Liverpool have 2 games coming up against the perennial La Liga champions, the European elite, in the Champions League semi-finals.

Those are really big games that some would only dare dream of, the gravity of which escapes you.