Jurgen Klopp warns against complacency

A dominant 6-1 performance over Southampton in the Capital One Cup makes it five straight wins for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

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.

Liverpool now sit sixth in the Premier League table and Ibe, who joined from Wycombe Wanderers aged 16, says Klopp has raised spirits since taking charge, even giving the players the belief they can go on and win the league.

“Of course we feel good, the boys feel good”, Klopp told the club’s official website.

We may finally get to see the true debut of the partnership of Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge this weekend.

“He is training and we will wait”.

Origi’s movement was superb and he linked up well with Sturridge and Lallana and was stronger at holding the ball up and to score three goals against a team like Southampton can only give the striker more confidence. I like optimism. But with Phil (Coutinho) we were too optimistic. I am sure it would not have been possible to play on Wednesday with the same team we used against Swansea. The muscle is unsafe when you feel it, and when that happens, you [have to] stop [playing].

The most important thing about Liverpool at the moment is that the team isn’t reliant on an player. “We’ve had two clean sheets this season and we’re working on trying to keep more because, otherwise, we’re always going to be in trouble”.

The England worldwide has played in only four league matches so far this campaign, scoring two goals and creating three chances in the process.

Meanwhile Steve McClaren has admitted Newcastle’s fragile confidence could be obliterated if they allow Liverpool to slip into top gear tomorrow.

“Hendo [Jordan Henderson] is a good example to explain why players have to be handled differently. If I can score goals, it is much better”. We came away from Bournemouth and that was two clean sheets and we thought we might have turned a corner.

While Nicol’s point is undoubtedly a valid one, if the opportunity to compete on various fronts is there for Klopp and he is confident that he has a squad that can cope with the strain, then he will more than likely continue down his current path.

However, McClaren knows it won’t get any easier against Liverpool on Tyneside.