Wijnaldum: Liverpool’s in-game attitude has changed

Georginio Wijnaldum feels there is much less anxiety flowing through the Liverpool team in tight situations this season and reckons their capacity to win when not at their best will be crucial.

The Reds have battled to four consecutive wins at the start of the season, seeing off Crystal Palace late in the game, edging past Brighton and just about repelling the advances of Leicester last time out.

Wijnaldum says Liverpool can now play without fear when they have a slender advantage and says January arrival Virgil van Dijk deserves credit for boosting confidence levels.

“Last season, there were occasions when – I don’t really want to use the word panicking – but the confidence could slide away,” he told the Telegraph.

“We had problems. There were times in a game where we were 1-0 up and the feeling was the opposition might score. Now it feels like if we are 1-0 the opposition has a big problem. The right phrase is ‘game management’.

READ: Carragher: Moments of truth beckon for Reds defence

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: James Milner scores for Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, London. (Photo by John Sibley/Reuters)

READ: Klopp accepts need to rotate amid hectic schedule

“Of course, Virgil has made a big difference. Since he came in we concede fewer goals. But we have changed a lot as a team. The more you are together as a team, the better you become. We counter-press better now, and you feel the improvement when you train. No-one can do it alone.

“In the moments when we are not playing well, we are not conceding many chances. If you look at a game like Crystal Palace away, we had not many chances before our penalty. It was difficult but we were calm and defended well.”

The Dutchman believes only the very best sides can dig deep and extract ‘the extra five or ten percent’ of points.

“I saw some games for City last year where I thought they were not at their best, but they still won,” he recalled.

“Chelsea had that the year before. That is what we need. That is where the extra five or ten per cent comes from, especially when you are playing around 50 games in all competitions.

“No team can play really good in 50 games. During the season you will not play that well all the time. You will not create a lot of chances in every game, but if you stop the opponent getting chances you will win more.”

Wijnaldum does not necessarily view Saturday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur as a must-win game, but does acknowledge that Liverpool need to raise their game against the top six.

“I see Tottenham as a team like us, wanting to play good football,” he said. “They are always looking for solutions in the game and play as we do. That’s why people say this is a ‘big game’. In the situation we are in it, they say it makes it bigger.

“I don’t look it at it like that. Last year, we did not win any of these away games against the top six. The year before we did not lose one against the rest of the top six. Both times we finished fourth.

“Obviously we want to change it this season, but we cannot say one game is more important. We need to be consistent against everyone.”

“It would help to win, but the manager has been keeping our feet on the ground since the start of the season.

“Everyone is excited about Liverpool, but whatever happens he will not let us fly yet. The season is long.”

The post Wijnaldum: Liverpool’s in-game attitude has changed appeared first on AnfieldHQ.

Source: anfieldhq.com