- Jurgen Klopp explains value of Liverpool’s trip to Dubai
- Reds were afforded mid-season break following hectic festive period
- Klopp claims club had to jump at the opportunity of some free time
- SEE MORE: Klopp: why Sanchez fiasco would never happen at Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool had to snatch at the chance to take a mid-season break following the club’s packed festive schedule.
The Reds followed up their enthralling 2-1 FA Cup win over Everton with a stay in Dubai, where Klopp allowed his players a much-needed breather amid their intense run of fixtures.
An opportunity to recharge teased immediate signs of paying off when Liverpool returned to produce a devastating performance and inflict Manchester City’s first Premier League defeat of the season.
“For us, it was always clear: the first moment we had the opportunity to give the boys a few days somewhere else, we would do it immediately. You have to do it after the unbelievably intense period,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“In the last two years we couldn’t do it, we were always in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. This year, there is nothing good to say about going out of the Carabao Cup other than you don’t have to play two games in a moment when everybody is pretty much on the edge.”
“Using that time was clear, but will it make a difference? If you do the four days right and everything else wrong, then it will make no difference. I think it was right.”
The demanding nature of Klopp’s high intensity approach has always risked burning players out by the turn of the year, as evidenced by last season’s dip in form over January and February.
Liverpool and Klopp have seemingly learned from their mistakes and turned a notable focus towards preserving the fitness and energy of key players through squad rotation when possible.
This saw valuable rests given to the front three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane over Christmas, and, in turn, increased opportunities for the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The entire squad remains in great shape to maintain the club’s impressive unbeaten run.