Jürgen Klopp happy to see Liverpool’s refound belief and enjoyment

Klopp’s side have won seven of their last eight fixtures in all competitions and will be looking to pile further misery on second bottom Newcastle United.

These are indeed plausible reasons, but Klopp again calmed title talk following the 6-1 demolition of Southampton in the week.

Klopp arrived at Liverpool will a stellar reputation from his days at Borussia Dortmund, where he renowned for getting the best out of a young group of players.

“Sturridge did well in the last game”, Klopp continued.

Both are in line to start at Newcastle tomorrow – Henderson could be promoted from the bench as midfielder Emre Can serves a one-match ban – as Liverpool’s squad edges closer to full strength. The plan before the game was to give him 55-60 minutes.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Klopp said: “I like optimism, but with Phil we were too optimistic. Sometimes it happens like this and there’s nothing to criticise about it”, Klopp told reporters on Friday. “We just need to take it one game at a time and hopefully success will come”.

“Football always looks only like work in hard times”.

“Yesterday nobody gave me this sign, so we will have to wait today”.

There is indeed a long way to go-24 games (72 points) over the next six months.

“Of course, he felt each muscle after the game and that’s normal because it was intensive”.

“You can’t always play with a miserable face – OK, that’s how I play tennis but that’s my problem”, he joked.

The striker has had his motivation and desire to play through the pain barrier openly questioned by fans and pundits after a series of injuries have kept him sidelined for a vast part of the last two seasons.

“We have to concentrate from the first second”. “He’s 21, he doesn’t look like it. Often in his game he doesn’t look 21, he sometimes looks like 80 – it’s the truth and he knows it. Good for him and good for us”, Klopp said.

Klopp was not seeking to play down the fact that the omens seem to be in their favour but the German knows lapses in concentration, as Liverpool showed in conceding early to Chelsea and Southampton in recent wins, could cost his side dear.