“I’m six times happier”: Liverpool coach on the team’s results since the beginning of the year

At the start of 2023, Liverpool found themselves in sixth place in the Premier League, following a defeat to Brentford and a string of winless matches until February 13th. They suffered losses to Brighton twice and even succumbed to Wolverhampton Wanderers with a scoreline of 3-0. However, Jürgen Klopp witnessed a remarkable turnaround towards the end of the year, propelling Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table. They could end 2023 at the summit if Arsenal fails to win against Fulham in the upcoming match. Of course, if the Gunners triumph, Liverpool might regain the lead during their clash against Newcastle, but that game will take place in the following calendar year.

Addressing journalists, Klopp remarked:

"I'm six times happier [than last year]. It was an awful time. We were sixth and then probably seventh or eighth. Now, I feel better. We're in the middle of the season, and we're just trying to make the most of it".

However, Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool might face challenging times ahead. Alexis Mac Allister returned to training after a knee injury on December 6th, but his comeback occurs at a crucial moment, especially with other midfielders like Wataru Endo heading for the Asian Cup. Moreover, Mohamed Salah will also depart after the Newcastle match for the African Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast. The return of Diogo Jota, who played a pivotal role in securing three points against Burnley on Boxing Day, eases the situation slightly.

It's worth noting that Salah could potentially miss a total of eight matches, including the third-round FA Cup tie against Arsenal.