Liverpool’s Klopp relishing return to Germany

Augsburg have released a Scouse-German phrase list for locals – and Scousers – to learn for tomorrow’s game at the WWK Arena.

Jurgen Klopp returns to Germany for the first time as Liverpool coach on Thursday hunting a Europa League win at Augsburg in his quest to quench the Reds’ thirst for silverware.

While eighth-placed Liverpool endeavour to make the most of their Premier League campaign, a fine Europa League run could provide Klopp with a happy distraction in his maiden term at the club’s helm.

First Joe Gomez tore his ACL in October, taking him out of contention for the season, then Jordan Rossiter missed most of the season with various injuries, and now Kevin Stewart may be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Liverpool youngster Kevin Stewart has been ruled out of Thursday’s Europa League fixture against FC Augsburg. It’s a big game for them and something like an historical game for them against LFC.

“Maybe in this case when you have 21 points and are in a hard situation you could say “yes” but from outside you will not see this at the game”.

The Bundesliga club was founded over 100 years ago but did not play in the Bundesliga until 2011. “They will fight for their life, for sure, because for them it is an absolute highlight”. “I only left to work”, he said, having ordered German specialities for his squad to eat at the hotel. Jurgen Klopp and I have played against them often enough. If it is the biggest game in their history you can imagine how ready they are for this game.

And Krawietz insisted that he expects the Augsburg game to be a big challenge for Liverpool, despite Markus Weinzierl’s team not being in the best of form lately. They have players with big potential and have one of the most physical strikers in Europe – Raul Bobadilla – who you need a navigation system to drive around.

“They have a good mixture of experience and young players”.

Klopp has brought all his available big guns here, with the exception of the injured Adam Lallana and there is no doubting his ambition to be successful in this competition; Liverpool topped their qualifying group and Klopp hopes the journey will take them all the way to the final in Basle. “We know everything about this team”.