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Jurgen Klopp urges Liverpool stars to ‘give Napoli a knock’, confirms key defender ‘is ready’ to play

Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to “fight” against Napoli and to “give them a knock” as they look to finish the Champions League group stage on a high.

The Reds host Napoli in their last game in the group stages of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Liverpool are already through to the next stage of the competition but they need to win and produce a mammoth goal difference swing to secure top spot.

The Serie A side are seven goals better off than Liverpool after five games. This is helped by them winning 4-1 when the teams met last in September.

Klopp is keen for his side to produce a confidence-boosting performance in midweek. This game comes a couple of days after they were beaten at Anfield by Leeds United.

Crysencio Summerville’s winner succumbed Liverpool to their fourth defeat in just 12 Premier League games. 

Klopp has suggested that he will not rotate too much as Napoli are “the form team in Europe”.

“Perfectly honest pretty quick turnaround v Leeds so not fully aware of the situation about players,” Klopp told reporters (via Liverpool Echo).

“We don’t want to take risks but you know Napoli are in incredible shape and play incredible football, maybe the team in form in Europe at moment. Not a game for massive rotation.

“We want to win the game. I have to make the line-up later today or maybe tomorrow morning. Then we will go from there.

“In the Champions League group stage, the most important is getting through it. From here we go.

“We have to put a proper shift in, so we need the players who have the possibility to do that. I don’t know who that is now.

Klopp added: “Stability is our issue. We have had highs and lows this season. We can’t think about what’s happening in the next few months, we have to only think about the next game.

“I’ve been long enough in the business to know there’s always a chance to win the next game and put things right.

“People can’t expect us to be flying, also because of the quality of our opponent.

“We have to fight. I don’t want to see back-heels, bicycle kicks. We just have to fight, but Napoli will too.

“We have to be the opponent [other teams] don’t want to face but the Napoli is quite high. We have to give them a knock.”

Klopp also confirmed that Joel Matip is not yet fit, but Ibrahima Konate is “ready for the squad now”.

“It’s very good to have [Konate] back. He’s ready for the squad now. He trained yesterday completely normal,” he confirmed.

“He’s had eight or nine days. That’s obviously very good. He is an option.”

READ MORE: Liverpool duo join Chelsea quartet in Premier League weekend’s worst XI…

 

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