Liverpool

Kevin Keegan: 'Liverpool must remain patient with Jurgen Klopp'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 07 October 2017

Kevin Keegan insists that Liverpool are not alone with their defensive struggles, as he backs Jurgen Klopp to turn things around at Anfield.

Former Liverpool forward Kevin Keegan has insisted that Jurgen Klopp remains the perfect fit for the club, but he must be given more time to get things right.

The German coach has seen his side struggle in his second full campaign in charge, winning just one of their last seven games to find themselves off the pace in the Premier League, while also exiting the EFL Cup.

In the week that Klopp celebrates his two-year anniversary at Anfield, during which time the Reds have consistently struggled at the back, Keegan has stressed that Liverpool would be wrong to consider a change of manager anytime soon.

"I think he's a great manager. He fits Liverpool, he gets Liverpool," ESPN quotes him as saying. "There are a lot of teams in the Premier League struggling in defence. All the rules have been changed to suit attackers - yellow cards, red cards. It's no fun being a defender.

"If a defender misses three tackles he's off so it's no wonder they are cautious. I don't think Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea are great defensively. It's not just a Liverpool problem. Nowadays everything is built for teams to go forward, which is great. Who shows highlights of defending?

"Yes they are conceding goals and they say it's a bit like my [Newcastle] team, but at Liverpool fans want to see a good game of football and they want the team to have a go. I think Klopp is the hand-in-glove type guy. You can understand what he is saying, he doesn't talk in riddles, he says what he thinks. I hope they have patience with him if it doesn't actually go quite right because he is the right guy."

Keegan won three top-flight titles, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup and the European Cup during his six years at Liverpool in the 1970s.