Dancing Klopp says Liverpool spirits are high despite coronavirus lockdown

Jurgen Klopp says the mood at Liverpool is upbeat despite the coronavirus lockdown, even admitting he has tried to copy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s dance moves to keep himself occupied.

The Premier League leaders were on the verge of their first top-flight title for 30 years when English football was suspended earlier this month.

The virus shutdown has since been extended until at least April 30 but Liverpool do not know when, or if, they will get a chance to complete the job.

Klopp said his players’ spirits remained high despite the frustrations of having no football to play and praised the efforts of his backroom staff who are looking after the players’ fitness.

“We spoke a couple of times, we have a really intense, big, big group chat — the whole of Melwood (training ground) are in that,” he said, speaking to the club’s website by videolink from his home.

“The boys are really lively in that, the boys are just interested in what everybody is doing, comments on what everybody is doing -- if Ox is on Instagram or whatever.”

Midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain and his girlfriend, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, performed a dance routine, which she posted on social media.

Team-mate James Milner played up to his “boring James Milner” tag by posting a video of himself cutting his grass with a ruler and scissors.

“I didn’t cut the grass but I tried the dance of Ox,” said Klopp. “Not as bad as you probably think. It’s very important in these times that we all show we take this situation seriously, but we are human beings.”

“If the boys do anything on Instagram, as long as it’s in a legal frame I’m overly happy about it — it just shows they are still cheeky and all that stuff,” he added.

Coach in tears

Klopp has revealed that he started crying immediately after he saw a video footage of people singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, the club’s theme song, to medical staff in a hospital with patients being treated during the coronavirus pandemic.

“My English is not good enough to say. It’s extraordinary, it’s great,” Klopp was quoted as saying by ESPNFC.

“I think yesterday I was sent a video of people in the hospital just outside the intensive care area and when they started singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, I started crying immediately.

“It’s unbelievable. But it shows everything, these people not only work but they have such a good spirit. They are used to helping other people, we need to get used to it because usually we have our own problems and stuff.

“But it’s their job, they do it day in and day out.”

Liverpool thanks healthcare workers

Meanwhile, Liverpool have shared a video of Klopp and members of his squad thanking healthcare workers in Great Britain and around the world for their efforts during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

People in Britain showed their appreciation for NHS staff on Thursday evening by taking to their windows, doorsteps and balconies to clap those involved in the attempt to save lives and prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In Liverpool’s video, players and staff from the men’s and women’s teams share their messages of gratitude, with Klopp saying: “Myself, the staff and all the players of LFC would like to take this opportunity to deliver a message to say thank you to all the incredible people who work in the health services and all the health workers out there.

“It’s unbelievable what you are doing, and on behalf on all of us from LFC, I would like to say thank you, or how we would say in Germany: Vielen Dank.”

Agencies