Georginio Wijnaldum: “You Always Learn from a Defeat”

Gini Wijnaldum on how Jürgen Klopp helped the Liverpool side gain perspective after back to back losses

Given their performances since the 2018-19 season began, Liverpool’s start to the New Year didn’t go down too well with the collective support base or with the first team squad.

The Reds began 2019 with a Premier League fixture away at the Etihad Stadium, to their direct title rivals, the current Champions, Manchester City on 3 January 2019. The match of course did not go at all as many in the LFC camp would have hoped, with the Reds suffering their first defeat of the season in the PL after 20 games unbeaten. Liverpool had of course drawn against City at Anfield in October 2018.

Liverpool subsequently followed their 3 – 1 defeat to City with another uncharacteristic loss against English opposition this season, when they faced Wolverhampton in their FA Cup third round clash on 7 January 2019 and succumbed to defeat, losing 2 – 1 at the Molineux Stadium.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Gini Wijnaldum (who has been on the injury list after suffering a knock during Liverpool’s PL fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion, has revealed Jürgen Klopp’s message to the team which was uplifting and positive.

“You always learn from a defeat, even more than when you win games because when you win, you don’t see everything you did wrong”, says Gini. “When you lose games, you analyze them more than when you win. Of course, we learned. Every team learns when they lose a game. What I learned the most was that we still need to keep the confidence; in Jürgen we have a manager who can help us with that. That’s what he said after the games against City and Wolves - that we must keep the confidence and maybe even work harder than before. He gave us the feeling that we had to deal with it and work even harder to make it better.”

The Reds followed the two defeats they suffered with two wins worthy of potential Champions. First up, was their strong and mature performance away at the Falmer Stadium against Brighton and Hove Albion on 12 January 2019 which they won 1 – 0. They then went on to break the Crystal Palace bogey curse once and for all by coming back not once but thrice against the Eagles in their PL fixture on 19 January 2019 at Anfield, which the Reds ultimately won 4 – 3.

Liverpool next take on Leceister City at Anfield on Wednesday in Match Week 24 of the Premier League. Be sure to check back here for all the team news leading up to that and check your local listings for time and availability.

Up the Mighty Reds!

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com