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"If you think about the second step before you make the first step, you will always fall down."
-Jürgen Klopp, February 24, 2016
As can reasonably be expected with an incoming manager, Liverpool's form has been as varied as it is unpredictable. However, Liverpool are now in a position where anything less than two very good performances in the next two games could make any further results this season essentially meaningless. Such a statement cannot be made without looking ahead, which is exactly what Kloppo doesn't want Liverpool fans doing. Perhaps looking ahead is human nature, but the manager is trying his best to get the team to focus on the task at hand.
"We have to be fully concentrated and give everything for this game," Klopp said in his pre-match presser. "If we think, for example, to leave this player out then for sure he will be injured in a training session. So it's not allowed. We have to be fully concentrated on this game and then go to the next one. That's how we select the team. The only other thing we have to think about is who is available?"
Injured in a training session? I never expected Klopp to join #teamETW, but I guess he has been at Liverpool long enough to understand how things work around here.
Even with a full-strength team (minus sick and injured players), Klopp knows there's no guarantee of a positive result against Augsburg.
"We could lose against Augsburg because they are strong. I know you all think it's different but they are strong. But we have to show we tried everything. If you try everything it's okay.
"Life is really fair. If you give your all, you have a chance to achieve something. I hope it's not a test to be honest. I hope we show we want to win this game. We'll finish this game and then think about the next one."
Last time out in Germany, Augsburg proved to be a well-drilled side that was more than up for the task at hand. If Liverpool want anything to look forward to after Sunday, they'll need to show up in a big way tonight.