Jurgen Klopp insists his side will have to adapt to Benfica’s style of play when they meet in the Champions League.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as stated that his side will have to the style of play against Portuguese side Benfica in the Champions League.
The Reds were draw with Benfica after they qualified against Inter Milan in the first knockout stage.
Benfica on the other hand knocked out a strong side Ajax before they were drawn with the Premier League side Liverpool.
Speaking ahead of the match against Benfica away from home Klopp stated that they need to be read for Benfica technicality in the game.
“It’s a football-playing side, they have odd positions, high full-backs, stuff like this as well. We have high full-backs as well in moments but it just shows they are ready to take a risk, [it] means when they are in possession they open up the formation.
“There’s a lot of space to defend, so we have to make sure that we can win balls so we could use that as well. We expect that they do that, because that’s what they did so far in pretty much all the games. But, maybe against us they play completely different.
“We have to adapt to that. It’s a mix of these technical players, of speed, and good organisation, I have to say, and that’s what makes them dangerous. The fact that they came through the group, in the league they are for sure not exactly in the position – the distance to Porto is, for sure, a bit too big for their understanding.
“But in the Champions League, they overachieved. They were not in the group the favourite, for sure not. They were not against Ajax the favourite, for sure not. Ajax… everybody knows the talent of Ajax is insane and they kicked them out and that shows they know how to get a result. We have to make sure that we have a hand in that as well.”
Liverpool defeated Watford in their last Premier League game which look tough for them, when asked about what improvement needs to made based on their last game Klopp said: “I don’t think about being better, I think about being top of our game, that’s the plan for all of the games. It doesn’t happen that you try to improve here or there, you try to improve in general, and
“Benfica is obviously a different opponent. One of the most successful teams in Portugal, this year maybe not exactly where they want to be in the table but they went far in the Champions League so it’s a tough opponent. I know we know a lot of players, obviously, from Premier League or Bundesliga or wherever so you can say it’s a proper team and we have to be really good, that’s true.”
