Jurgen Klopp says he is not expecting a repeat of last season’s thrashing of Crystal Palace as Liverpool prepare to visit Selhurst Park this weekend.
Liverpool travel to face the Eagles in South London on Sunday, the scene of the club’s biggest-ever away victory in the top flight after securing a 7-0 win at Palace last season.
Klopp is anticipating a much tougher test this time around against Patrick Vieira’s improving side, however, and says last season’s resounding result was a ‘freak of nature’.
“That was a one off. These days happen, it’s a freak of nature and it doesn’t happen usually. That day was incredible. Every shot we hit [went in],” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“We don’t expect that. They’ve changed and improved. They look like a really stable team now.
“System wise they have not changed too much. It’s a really good Premier League team with a few really unlucky results I would say. We expect a really tough game.”
Liverpool head into the clash after beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek, Diogo Jota scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at the Emirates.
That flick from Bobby, Trent’s pass, and a lovely Jota finish 🤩
A brilliant opener from Diogo yesterday 👏 pic.twitter.com/IDduAHp3SB
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 21, 2022
The win sets up a final meeting with Chelsea in late February and Klopp says his side are relishing the chance to win silverware at Wembley.
“We were desperate to go there,” Klopp said.
“We did not think after the home leg that we were out. The boys played an outstanding game. There were a lot of happy faces in the stadium and a lot of happy faces in the dressing room – the music was really loud. We are all looking forward to it.
“Last night the boys were flying – music loud, those kind of things. That’s how it should be.
“I’m really happy about that. We feel good in this moment but we have to create a different mood until Sunday because Crystal Palace do not give out presents.
“We have to be greedy and have to be aggressive again and fight with all we have. That is what I am concerned about not keeping this feeling until the final.”
