Klopp has an eye for a bargin

Jurgen Klopp is back in Germany for the first time as Liverpool manager today hunting a Europa League win at Augsburg in his quest to quench the Reds’ thirst for silverware.

Klopp became accustomed to leading Borussia Dortmund to the later stages of the UEFA Champions League in his last few seasons at the club, but he also knows the strength of the Europa League, saying: “We all know how important this competition is”. Liverpool’s been playing well under Klopp, but in some games they haven’t had much luck so they didn’t win some matches they should have – as a result, at the moment they sit only at eighth place of Barclays Premier League.

Klopp and his men are in Germany preparing for the first leg of their last-32 tie against Bundesliga outfit Augsburg. “For sure the Europa League is not the shortest way to get to the Champions League, it is a really hard race”, he conceded.

Klopp believes he has bought a centre-back ready-made for the Premier League who can help provide a solution to their defensive weaknesses which have been exposed so many times this season.

Augsburg received 5,000 applications for just 2,000 away tickets for the Liverpool game, which will be a 26,160 sell-out.

“I don’t think there is extra motivation because I am there but it is a special situation because it’s Europa League and it’s a small club that can earn a lot of money”.

He concluded: “At this moment I would say we have a better chance this way”.

How big is this game?

.

Liverpool’s only two victories on German soil against German clubs came in Dresden against Dynamo in the 1972-73 UEFA Cup and at Bayer Leverkusen in 2004-05 European Cup – with Liverpool going on to win the trophy in both seasons.

At the end of the press conference, without request, he advised those journalists staying in Munich – half an hour from Augsburg by train – which tourist traps to steer clear of and where to go drinking.

Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl admits it has been a long time leading up to the occasion, which has sold out the 30,000-capacity WWK Arena.

You could argue that Klopp’s knowledge of Augsburg is an advantage, but they know all about him and his counter-pressing too. I didn’t leave Germany long enough ago to say I need German air or something like this!