Go out and enjoy yourselves ―Klopp

Klopp has told his players to enjoy themselves in their CL play-off

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has played down the pressure on Liverpool ahead of their Champions League play-off first-leg encounter against Hoffenheim on Tuesday.

Klopp knows all about the quality of his side’s opponents following his spells managing Mainz and Borussia Dortmund but he’s confident that his side are up to the task.

Speaking ahead of the game at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Klopp said: “Yes, it is big because we can go in the Champions League. We have to be at our best – but I am confident we will be.

“You can see the opportunity in different ways. We have already qualified for European competition which we didn’t have last year.

“I know now people will say: ‘Yes, but who wants to play in the Europa League?’ Manchester United didn’t want to play it last year but they won it and now they are in the Champions League. Things happen like that.

“We can either allow the pressure on this game to increase over the next 24 hours to the extent that we cannot walk any more or we still try to enjoy this opportunity. I think that is the best way to do it.”

Hoffenheim were one of only three sides to go unbeaten at home in their domestic last season, meaning that Liverpool are in for a tough challenge. Despite that statistic, Jurgen Klopp’s side still go into the game as favourites.

Sporting Tribune