Jurgen Klopp has defended Liverpool fans from accusations of celebrating Premier League success prematurely after seeing their team hit the front in the title race.
Although the phenomenon has been largely restricted to social media, Reds supporters have received plenty of flak from rivals in recent weeks for ‘getting carried away’ by their early lead over Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
But Klopp believes fans should be able to enjoy an unbeaten start to the league season that has seen his team installed as favourites to be crowned champions in May.
He said: “I'm not out there a lot, so I don't know if the people are running through the streets like this [waving arms] constantly.
“When I pass people on the streets, it doesn't look like that - normal life. People like how the boys perform, how the boys are playing, people love the results. That's all clear.
“But I think it's a lack of respect to think that our fans want to celebrate now already, like this, 'We will do it, we will do it'.
“We really create an atmosphere where the people like the steps we make, they like being part of these steps. That's what we are in the moment.
“We are not the group we were 10 or 15 years ago - or even 20 years ago. We are not. It's different. The world changed out there, the football world changed, there are different opponents now, different challenges.
“We are in a really good position in that group of challenges. That's it. That was the first achievement. The people are now really happy that it looks like the season so far is already special.
“If they are smart - and they are smart - then they will enjoy it until the last matchday. Then we will see what it brought.”
As for his players, Klopp has no doubts that they also remain grounded at this early stage of the season.
And he believes the journey to last season’s Champions League final has helped relieve some of the pressure that has weighed down on previous Liverpool teams.
He added: “I see their attitude and the right mood and all that stuff in the games and training sessions. We are all individuals.
“There is nothing to talk about in the case of something going in the wrong direction but results and performances give confidence, that’s how it is. We had results [and] really good performances.
“I have said, always, as long as we mix up our potential with attitude, it will be quality. That’s how it is. That’s what our boys showed so far and that’s what we have to do again.
“I think we got finally rid of the backpack [weight of expectation] when we reached the Champions League final.
“We didn’t win it, yes, but not 20 teams in the last reached the Champions League final. So that was the moment when we did, the boys did, something really special.
“Yes we didn’t win it, but the ride there was unbelievable, the journey was unbelievable. So since then it feels different, that’s true.”
