Date: 18 February 2016 Times Telegraph Augsburger Allge. February 18 2016 Opposition: FC Augsburg Guardian Mirror Echo Competition: Europa League Independent Mail BBC Sturridge passes up golden chance Daniel Sturridge fluffs his lines but Liverpool earn draw at Augsburg Augsburg 0 “Klopp Is Coming Home” read the front page headline on the Augsburger Liverpool 0 Allgemeine but the celebrated return of the celebrated German coach was, well, After stating his intention to win the Europa League this season, Jurgen Klopp was nothing to celebrate. Liverpool’s tame goalless draw against an Augsburg side immediately provided with a reminder of Liverpool's limitations and the struggling in the Bundesliga will not linger in the memory as long as the potential improvements that must be made if such ambitions are to be realised. A largely knock-on effects for Jürgen Klopp. dour draw away to Augsburg was not a bad result by any means but nor was this a There was more entertainment in the post-match press conference than on the performance to fuel anticipation that Liverpool could go trophy-gathering in May. pitch as Klopp was presented with a large pretzel by an Augsburg official, after the Klopp would have wanted to make a greater statement on his return to Germany manager mentioned that he had missed the delicacy during his five months away. but even an away goal proved beyond Liverpool as they failed to take any of the He slowly devoured the pretzel while taking his poor translator to task, in German chances that could have allowed them to make next Thursday's second leg at and in English, for several misinterpretations that left the local media in hysterics. Anfield a formality. As it is, they go into that game, three days before the Capital Klopp’s thoughts on an away draw in Europe, one that Augsburg appeared to One Cup final against Manchester City, with the tie in the balance. Again, Klopp savour after the final whistle, were also open to interpretation. had been hoping for better. “A nil-nil away in the Europa League is okay,” said the Liverpool manager. “We With Liverpool's injury problems easing, Klopp was able to name an unchanged had some great moments and some good play but there were other moments I side for the first time since becoming manager; the search for rhythm and am not happy with. I am not 100% satisfied and I want to change things in the consistency being the most significant factors in his team selection along with the second game. Doing the right thing at the right moment is important – we had a Europa League emerging as the Merseyside club's most realistic route into next few good moments. In the second half we had three or four really good moves. season's Champions League. My problem is that I think, with our quality, we should do better. But I have to be Retaining the starting XI that had dismantled Aston Villa four days earlier meant patient. Augsburg tactically were really good but we have our return match next Daniel Sturridge was able to make his third European appearance for Liverpool. week at Anfield.” Klopp is all too aware of the qualities that Sturridge offers when fully fit but this Liverpool recovered from a dour first half to create inviting chances after the was the first time in 11 months that the forward had been able to start backto- interval, limiting the home team’s threat in the process, but also survived a late back matches. scare when the substitute Ji Dong-won struck Simon Mignolet’s post with his first At least the Augsburg Arena proved a less than intimidating setting for Sturridge touch. The lack of an away goal was not Klopp’s only concern in Bavaria. His team to be put through his paces with the home side celebrating the seventh and face Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final three days after next week’s biggest European game in their history by rolling out the red carpet for their second leg and Augsburg will not be treated lightly. illustrious opponents. After the announcement of Klopp's name was warmly Klopp said: “Will we play as strong a team in second leg? Yes, I think so. Maybe applauded, the Augsburg fans joined in with You'll Never Walk Alone it’s a different team but we should not think too much about the final. I will not as Liverpool were made to feel at home. ignore it, of course, but this result doesn’t complicate my plans. How was it The sense of goodwill extended to the game itself during the opening stages when supposed be here, winning 5-0 and have a friendly game in the rematch? Markus Feulner's stray pass gave Roberto Firmino a sight of goal only for the “You have to respect German teams more. It is not possible to beat Augsburg 5-0, forward to snatch at his shot. Ragnar Klavan was then fortunate to see his and if we win 1-0 or 2-0 then nothing is decided. We have to be really attempted clearance ricochet off Sturridge's chest and into Marwin Hitz's grateful concentrated in the return and show we want to go to the next round. If we want arms as Augsburg showed signs of defensive vulnerability when put under to save energy then we will lose on Thursday and on Sunday.” pressure. Liverpool’s manager had labelled the tie “the biggest game in Augsburg’s history”, Going forward, the team fifth from bottom in the Bundesliga were a different taking his cue from his opposite number, Markus Weinzierl, who claimed this was proposition, betraying no signs of diminished confidence despite a four-game his club’s chance to announce themselves on the international stage. The pre- winless run as they took the game toLiverpool, playing the kind of high-intensity, match talk bore no relation to what unfolded on the pitch, however, as unforced high-pressing football that Klopp knows well. For all their endeavour, though, errors and careless distribution from both sides undermined the managerial hype. chances were hard to come by during the first half and they were not helped by A sloppy tone was set early when Mamadou Sakho directed a routine defensive the withdrawal of Raul Bobadilla, their most prolific forward, with a hamstring clearance straight to Raúl Bobadilla unmarked on the edge of the area. His volley injury. struck the ground before looping over Mignolet and on to the roof of Liverpool’s While Augsburg's limitations were clear, so too was Liverpool's inability to net, much to the Paraguay striker’s disgust. His night would not ignite. The dominate opponents nowhere as obliging as Villa had been. In midfield in forward suffered a hamstring injury and his replacement, Caiuby, created the particular, Liverpool lacked authority as Augsburg found space too easy to come clearest opening of the first half when releasing Alexander Esswein behind the by on several occasions With both teams struggling to gain the ascendancy, the Liverpool defence. Esswein cut back inside Kolo Touré but Mignolet was out quick first half became increasingly ragged, although Augsburg ended it the stronger of to close the angles and block the shot. the two and were only prevented from taking the lead by Simon Mignolet's save Liverpool did have their moments before the interval without seriously troubling from Alexander Esswein after the forward had cut inside Kolo Toure. Marwin Hitz in the Augsburg goal. The visitors were far too static in the final third Liverpool raised the tempo at the start of the second half and immediately looked but as their movement improved in the second half so, predictably enough, did better for it with Philippe Coutinho screwing one shot wide after an intricate their threat. The spectacle improved considerably too. Daniel Sturridge should move and Sturridge missing an even more presentable chance after being picked have given Klopp’s team the lead when James Milner and Roberto Firmino carved out on the edge of the six-yard box by James Milner. With Augsburg showing open the home defence and the former drilled an inviting pass across the face of strain, Liverpool should have profited from Alberto Moreno's inswinging free kick goal. The striker opened his body to shoot but failed to get enough on the ball and only for Toure to fail to make a clean contact before Hitz recovered his ground miscued badly wide of the far post. just in time to prevent a ricochet off Paul Verhaegh from crossing the line. Augsburg were again exposed on their left when Sturridge released Nathaniel Sturridge's latest run-out came to an end after 68 minutes when he was replaced Clyne to the byline. The defender’s cross was destined for Philippe Coutinho, by Divock Origi whose superior movement ensured he was introduced ahead of arriving at the near post, only for Paul Verhaegh, having tracked the Brazilian’s Christian Benteke. Liverpool's quest for an away goal continued with Moreno run, to make a vital interception. Liverpool went close for a third time when the testing Hi. Bundesliga side made a hash of clearing Alberto Moreno’s free-kick into the heart Despite becoming increasingly dominant, Liverpool survived a scare when Kostas of their penalty area. Caiuby struck his clearance against Verhaegh and the ball Stafylidis's volley from Esswein's cross was prodded wide by Caiuby, the rebounded into the grateful grasp of the goalkeeper Hitz on the line.