Jurgen Klopp is eager for his Liverpool side to continue their great start to the season defensively.
It’s not so long ago that Liverpool‘s defence was one of the running jokes in English football. A lot can change in a year, however.
The Reds have conceded just five goals in their opening 12 Premier League games, equaling the club’s all-time best defensive record for the start of a season, previously achieved by Bob Paisley’s sides of the 1977/78 and 1978/79 seasons.
Klopp seemed unaware of the record when questioned by reporters on Friday and joked about going ultra-defensive in order to rewrite the record books at Vicarage Road.
“I didn’t know that. Now I will put 11 defenders on the pitch to make sure we get that record,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference.
“The record was not our main focus. We play to win football games and it makes life easier if we don’t concede but it will be a proper challenge tomorrow.”
Klopp knows his Liverpool side will need to be wary when they travel to Watford on Saturday as Javi Gracia and his team have enjoyed an impressive start to the season.
“It’s no coincidence that Watford are seventh in the league. They got a proper knock against Bournemouth but all the other games they were very good.
“You don’t get a lot of shots against them. You have to be ready for all the small things.”
Liverpool haven’t lost in their last five meetings with Watford, winning four of those encounters.