Reds rejuvenated Manager Jurgen Klopp says mid- season break was a welcome move as Liverpool resume title march against bottom- placed Norwich City today EPL preview London: The first ever Premier League mid- season break pleased Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp as it allowed the runaway leaders to rest their aches and pains following the hectic festive period.
The German, 52, takes his players to bottom- placed Norwich today holding a 22 point lead over two- time defending champions Manchester City.
Klopp said the break will have done his squad the world of good as he knew from his own playing experience.
u201c I was a player myself.
When I look back it feels like I played through 80% of the time with pain,u201d he said.
u201c Nobody appreciated that because I played bad so it didnu2019t help. Nobody asked then. It is completely normal for a professional football player to play through pain. After that long period in December- January, there was no player in the squad who had no pain. Everybody had something.u201d Kloppu2014 whose Champions League holders travel to Atletico Madrid next week in their Last- 16 first leg clashu2014 has also been boosted by the return to fitness from hamstring injuries of Senegal attacker Sadio Mane and veteran James Milner.
Sane has missed the last four matches while Milner has been out since January 5.
u201c Milner and Sadio are back.
When they are back you consider them immediately,u201d said Klopp. u201c Apart from [ Xherdan] Shaqiri, [ Nathaniel] Clyne and [ Paul] Glatzel, all the players are in training.
We have some good options.
Hopefully it stays like this for the rest of the season.u201d AFP 16 No. of consecutive Premier League games Liverpool have won this season LIVE ON TV Norwich v Liverpool: Star Sports Select 1 & Select 1 HD, Jurgen Klopp 23: 00 Liverpool players celebrate a goal against Southampton during an EPL tie recently. pic/ Gett y Images
