Jurgen Klopp satisfied with Liverpool progress
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool are ahead of where he expected them to be as he aims for a first win in his fourth match in charge when Bournemouth visit Anfield in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.
The German must have thought he was about to break his duck when Christian Benteke put Liverpool ahead late on against Southampton on Sunday only for Sadio Mane to equalise.
That made it three draws in succession for Klopp, who expressed his surprise in the aftermath at the extreme reaction of his players to conceding the goal.
But he was keen to project a much more positive vibe ahead of the Cherries match, saying: "I think it's more a problem with my language. I don't have enough words to make the small differences between words and meaning.
"I really don't have problems. How I understand it is, if we bring new information, if you were at this level, then you go a step down and then it goes in the other direction.
"That's pretty normal. It's the time you need to change your movements and all these things. I'm surprised how big the steps are that we did.
"Everybody can see we need the results. We had results, not the most satisfying in the world. We didn't have the easiest opponents to play against.
"If you are new in a club, normally you have more time, but if you don't you have to accept that the way is hard.
"We have a very important competition every three days and we have to find a solution. My faith in this team is really big. It's a really good working atmosphere in this squad.
"If someone hoped (the changes) would be quicker then I'm sorry but I think it's not better that you win the first game and don't know why. It's important we find a way to win games in the future and know why, then we know we will get better."
Daniel Sturridge is not yet back in training after a knee problem, but one or both of Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino could start up front following their substitute appearances against Saints at the weekend.
James Milner is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season and the changes Klopp makes to his team may include bringing in one or more of the club's youngsters.
Bournemouth are also in need of a victory themselves to boost morale following chastening back-to-back 5-1 defeats by Manchester City and Tottenham.
Assistant manager Jason Tindall told The Daily Echo: "You are going to have two teams that have not won in their past couple of games and are going to want to go out and perform well.
"Hopefully, we can go and do that but it will be a tough game. It has always been a tough game when we have played Liverpool in the past and this one will be no different.
"Off the back of two defeats, you want to win your next game as quickly as possible. This is an opportunity for us to do that against a really good side and if we do manage it then it will give us great confidence.
"It almost takes the pressure off the league and could potentially give us the confidence to go to Liverpool without the worry of points.
"Winning would give us a great lift and would hopefully be the catalyst for us to get back to performing well and winning games in the Premier League."
Long-term injury victims Tommy Elphick (ankle), Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel (all knee) remain out.
Source: PAR
