Klopp calls for Liverpool to remain “angry and greedy” ahead of Newcastle visit

Jurgen Klopp has called for Liverpool to remain “angry and greedy” on Boxing Day when Newcastle United come to Anfield.

Klopp’s side are four points clear at the top of the league after beating Wolves 2-0 on Friday evening, after which Manchester City lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace.

However, the German manager knows that he’ll face a tough opponent in Rafa Benitez when the former Reds boss returns to Anfield with his Newcastle side.

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“I have known him for a long time,” Klopp said of Benitez, according to LiverpoolFC.com.

“I knew him before I came to Liverpool and he always did a brilliant job. He was very successful, he was outstanding at Napoli, and won different things. That makes him a special person.

“I don’t know too much about Newcastle; from time to time I read a little bit and I heard nobody was really happy with the amount of money they had to sign players. But Rafa is too experienced to carry that through a full season.

“Now they are really settled and are in a good moment result-wise after a difficult start. It was always difficult to play against them, at Newcastle and here at home as well. We know it will be a tough job.

“I knew the Wolverhampton game was a big challenge for us, because playing against United and winning, and before that against Napoli – big stages – and then going to Wolverhampton, not only in players’ minds but in people’s minds it could drop focus a little bit.

“So I was really, really happy when I saw the attitude we had for that game. That’s what we need: stay angry, stay greedy, stay really in the job. That’s what we have to do against Newcastle again.

“It’s now the third time probably we’ll play against a back five, but still always different. We need to adapt to the different things they offer.

“Rafa, with all his quality, can organise a defence pretty well. That’s not so cool. It’s good for him, not so good for us, but we will still try to beat it.”

Benitez will be welcomed back to Anfield with open arms by Liverpool supporters. The Spaniard is still well thought-of on Merseyside after managing the Reds to their 2005 Champions League win, and Klopp knows every Liverpool fan in the stadium will contribute to a warm reception for the former boss.

“The supporters of this club are famous for not forgetting people who did an outstanding job here,” said Klopp.

“It’s not only Rafa but it’s Rafa especially because he is still in the Premier League and from time to time around, he is still living in the area. Obviously he became a proper Scouser, which is quite rare for a Spanish guy.

“I like him. He is a fantastic manager and a really good person. I’m happy for him that he always gets this kind of reception, it’s nice. It shows that obviously Liverpudlians don’t forget that easily. It’s good for him, very good.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com