The Liverpool manager is ready to face the opposition his team beat in the Champions League final just a few short months ago.
Jurgen Klopp got a huge monkey off his back on that particular night in Madrid, picking up not only his first trophy with the Reds, but his first Champions League triumph as well.
Liverpool handily defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the decider, the goals coming from a Mo Salah penalty and Divock Origi, in what was a disappointingly dour affair.
The German tactician isn’t expecting his side to find the going as comfortable this Sunday in the Premier League as it was when the two teams last met in that June encounter, however.
“When we won the Champions League final – I think on that night we were very respectful with all our celebrations but still we were the one who were on the other side (of the result) on that night,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference.
🗣 – "It's not like they forgot how to play football!"
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Tottenham remain a "top team" despite their lack of consistency since reaching last season's Champions League final: https://t.co/FO6QNI9gB7 pic.twitter.com/wHUkxhziHe
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 25, 2019
“That’s an additional motivation (for Tottenham) to put some things right.
“But in the end it’s a football game between two really good teams and the extra motivation around will not make a massive difference.
“We will not be that confident that nothing can happen to us and they will not play like a team with the points tally they have.
“They are a top side in the Premier League and we will have to respect that and play the best football we can play against them.”
Read: Klopp buoyed by impact subs and return of Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of Spurs meeting
See Also: Five longest waits for a win at the start of a Premier League season
Spurs have not looked the same since that night in Madrid. #thfc #lfc https://t.co/LxaqQT5Skr
— The Football Faithful (@FootyFaithful_) October 25, 2019