Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp warns rivals: Park the bus and we will break you down

JURGEN KLOPP believes his title-chasing side have developed the skills and patience to dismantle even the most negative defensive tactics in their push for the Premier League title.

Posted Monday, November 28, 2016 by Express.co.uk

Victory on Saturday over a Sunderland side which for much of this game deployed a formation closer to 9-1 than 4-4-2 brought Liverpool three points and significant relief to an increasingly anxious Anfield.

Second half goals by Divock Origi from the bench and James Milner, from the spot, were the positives which mitigated the loss of Philippe Coutinho to an ankle injury halfway through the first period. He will have a scan on ligament damage this afternoon.

But just as importantly as the points, Jurgen Klopp insisted it was a victory which showed that they have made great strides in 12 months ago when such tactics might have succeeded.

Now, he maintained, his side now have the patience, skill and tools to break down anything placed in their path or in front of goal.

Jurgen Klopp hailed his Liverpool side for remaining patient against Sunderland

"I think there is no doubt this team is ready to play against parked buses," said Klopp. "We have all the skills, but you need to be patient.

"If you score the first goal early, then we get the second, the third, the fourth. It opens the game but it is all about the timing of when you get the first and the longer you don't, the most important thing is you don't get frustrated because we need to get used to situations like this.

"Last year the games were different with a few teams played defensively against us. This time, because we are better, we have forced them [more teams] into situations like this."

Liverpool can, therefore, expect a steady stream of buses to rumble into Anfield and apply the handbrake from now until May.

Like it or not, that is the badge of honour which comes with being the league's most exciting and prolific attacking force.

Along with Coutinho, Liverpool have been weakened by injuries to Adam Lallana, who is making good progress and is back training after a groin strain and Daniel Sturridge, who missed Saturday and training on Sunday with a slight calf strain.

Yet, as always, one man's closing door is an opening for another and on Saturday it was Origi who stepped up to the plate, coming on for Coutinho and providing the breakthrough with a long-range but pin-point strike from a tight angle on the edge of the box.

Origi has had to make do with a substitute's role – coming on with fewer than five minutes to go and the last three times with just a minute on the clock – in his five previous Premier League appearances.

Yet to his credit he has not sulked.

"You have to stay patient in a positive manner. I worked a lot to stay sharp for when I can help the team," said Origi. "We have a strong squad and everyone is important. It is very difficult [being on the sidelines].

"But when you're on the pitch you enjoy yourself and when you are not on the pitch you have to accept it, stay positive and believe in yourself. You never know when the team will need you."

Injuries mean that time has arrived.

For Sunderland, this was a first step backwards following two victories but coach David Moyes was not too downhearted and put up a suitably steely defence of his tactics.

"They won 6-1 [against Watford last time here] and we didn't want to come and get rolled over that easy," he said. "One day I hope to come with a team that can give Liverpool an open game but at the moment I don't have the team to do that."