The Liverpool boss held an extra long team meeting on Sunday at Melwood to discuss the reasons for an alarming run of just two points from their last nine in the league this year.
And he told his squad they need to produce a performance against Southampton in the EFL Cup tomorrow in order to bring hope and belief back to Anfield.
“I can feel it around us – it is not that positive any more,” said Klopp. “It is our turn to bring everybody back on track.
“It is a night game at Anfield and the impact [of a win] would be unbelievable. It would get an outstanding performance from the crowd.
“It is going to be difficult because Southampton are in a good run at this moment but at 1-0 everything is still possible for us and we want to go to the final.”
Klopp’s belief that Liverpool are entering a pivotal part of their campaign is evident from the meeting, which was both longer and more formal than his usual post-training sessions.
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants his side to turn their form around
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Liverpool slumped to a shock 3-2 defeat to Swansea on Saturday
Liverpool player ratings against Swansea City
Sat, January 21, 2017
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It would be normal for the debrief to be held in the dressing room, but Sunday’s get-together was done in the media suite at Melwood.
He encouraged his players not only to kickstart their year by turning around a 1-0 deficit, but also to embrace their role as the Premier League’s entertainers.
“The goals we have conceded in 2017 have been a little bit of the same story,” said Klopp. “The influence of throw-ins is a little bit too big on the goals we concede.
“But it is also about enjoying the role we have. We are Liverpool, and a really good football-playing side, and [at the moment] we don’t enjoy the job we have to do.
“In our job, in 70 to 80 per cent of all games, we are dominant. So we have to enjoy this, even when we don’t come through after five minutes. That’s how it is and that’s the job [we have] to do.”
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Liverpool host Southampton aiming to overcome a 1-0 deficit
Liverpool aim to reach their second consecutive EFL Cup final having been denied last year when losing on penalties at Wembley against Manchester City.
And Klopp is in no doubt there is everything still to play for in a season which started so well but has hit a few bumps in the road.
“We have a lot of opportunities and we fight in each game and we have to see what happens around us. The target is to win the EFL Cup and in the Premier League the target is the same.
“We have to finish the season as good as possible and we will see after the season what that means. We have the quality to fight for the Champions League and that’s what we should do.
“If we do that and we are close enough in the decisive moment of the season we can fight for a little bit more.”
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