Newcastle v Liverpool: Steve McClaren not surprised by Jurgen Klopp effect
Saturday 5 December 2015 12:32, UK
Jurgen Klopp can recreate the success he enjoyed at Borussia Dortmund at Liverpool, according to Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren.
Newcastle welcome an in-form Liverpool to St James' Park for Super Sunday, with Klopp having lost just one of his 11 matches since replacing Brendan Rodgers in October.
Live Ford Super Sunday
The Reds thrashed Southampton 6-1 at St Mary's on Wednesday to book their place in the Capital One Cup semi-finals, a result in contrast to the early season defeats suffered to West Ham and Manchester United under Rodgers.
Liverpool also claimed an impressive 4-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in November and McClaren insists the instant impact made by Klopp comes as no shock to him.
Klopp led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles during his seven years in charge, defeating McClaren's Wolfsburg team twice on their way to claiming the championship in 2011.
"It doesn't surprise me. He's a quality coach. I know him well from Dortmund and Germany. I played against him a couple of times and they were a very good team," McClaren said.
"What Dortmund had, I can see that in the Liverpool team. It's coming and they demonstrated on Wednesday night what they are capable of doing. They have got good quality players who work very hard. He is doing a great job."
Liverpool currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League table, just six points adrift of leaders City, while Newcastle are languishing in 19th spot following last Saturday's 5-1 thumping at Crystal Palace.
McClaren has won just three times in all competitions since taking charge of Newcastle in the summer, but he remains convinced he can turn his side's fortunes around.
When asked about the mood within the camp, he said: "These players have taken a hit in the last two weeks, the club has and we all have. But it's focused, it's focused and determined.
"The players know and we know that with just one performance, one result, we can turn it around. When confidence comes back, we have got good players, good, talented, young players. As young players, they have got to go through that.
"Football is over a season. We knew there were problems, we knew we would have to build a new culture and environment and a way or working and playing. We knew that would take time and it's taking time.
"But what you are hoping and what you are looking for is the next performance, the next result to turn that around, and that's how quickly it can be turned around, and Sunday is an opportunity to do that."
