Klopp’s Red rage at flops
EDDIE WARY OF CARDIFF CAULDRON
EDDIE JONES claims England will have to overcome a paralysing Cardiff fear factor if they are to extend their winning run in Wales on Saturday.
England set a new national record of 15 successive victories with their narrow 19-16 triumph over France at Twickenham to open their Six Nations title defence, but the Australian coach is concerned there is a mental block over the fixture which awaits them this weekend.
Jones was taken aback to discover that Wales have a 60 per cent win record in home games against England and has raised the issue with his squad.
“I can’t work out why the record of England in Wales is so poor. I’m sure they have had good teams down the years but they are a country of three million people,” said Jones. “Psychologically you have got to get it right when you are playing Wales in Wales.
“No one can tell me why the English are petrified of playing Wales in Wales. I will talk to a few blokes to figure out what the problem is and why the KASPER SCHMEICHEL has warned Leicester they are on course for relegation after the latest thrashing of their “embarrassing” title defence.
The Foxes goalkeeper branded their 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United “unacceptable” after Claudio Ranieri’s men wilted against Jose Mourinho’s side.
Ranieri insisted his players are still behind him despite a fourth successive league defeat placing more pressure on last season’s title-winning manager.
But Schmeichel pulled no punches after three goals in eight minutes either side of halftime from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata left the fading champions just a point above the drop zone. “For 40 minutes we played OK then after that it was unacceptable,” said the Dane. “It is not good enough and sums our season up at the moment. “Let’s not talk about last season. It’s gone. We need to stand up and be counted. “There are a lot of factors that go into it but this season has not been good right from the start.” Schmeichel refused to be drawn on Ranieri amid increasing murmuring from fans and pundits about his future. But he admitted the RANIERI: Speculation on future JURGEN KLOPP blew his top with his Liverpool players in the dressing room after their nightmare first half at Hull.
Klopp, below, let rip after watching his side fail to get a shot on target during the opening 45 minutes on Saturday as Hull took the lead just before half-time.
Afterwards, a visibly upset Klopp was in no mood to defend his players, saying they deserved the flak. “Putting ourselves under pressure is a hobby of ours and now we have to show a reaction,” he said.
Liverpool have now suffered their worst league start to a calendar year since 1954.
“We have to find an answer after a defeat that really hurts – not just me but the players as well.”