‘Never had an opponent’: Gullit & Klopp make quite the claim about Liverpool’s style

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Dutch legend Ruud Gullit told beIN SPORTS (03/11/20 at 10:05 pm) that Atalanta ‘never had an opponent’ before who pressed them like Liverpool did in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Reds put five goals past the Italian side and Jurgen Klopp himself added that ‘any system’ wouldn’t have been able to defend against his player, especially Sadio Mane, hat-trick hero Diogo Jota and Mo Salah.

It was quite the performance from the champions of England, who have dealt with off-field injury problems pretty well considering many were expecting them to falter.

Nonetheless, in terms of Liverpool’s style, Gullit made quite the claim about the ‘unbelievable’ Reds, as Klopp also made a bold statement about opponents not being able to defend against his players.

“I watched some Italian football last week and the pace is all different to the English pace,” said Gullit. “Liverpool was faster, quicker, pressing in everything.

“I think that was the key for them that the pace could overrule them. They were unbelievable and ruthless in front of goal as well. I think they [Atalanta] never had an opponent like that, who press them the whole day. And it’s fantastic to watch.”

Klopp added to beIN SPORTS: “It’s about the players [not the tactics or tactical battle between himself and the opposition coach]. I don’t want to talk too much about tactics, to be honest, because the job he is doing here is incredible.

“Against us, it was difficult. I don’t think any system could have defended Sadio, Mo and Diogo, with the support of all the others. And so it was not about the system, but the way we played.”

That was perhaps Liverpool’s best performance of the season and in a time where many were expecting them to fall, they are rising.

Even with the Virgil van Dijk injury, they still find themselves with a 100% record in the Champions League and sitting top of the Premier League table.

If this is Liverpool just getting warmed up then they might just prove to be unstoppable once again this season.