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Jurgen Klopp knows all about the perception of his Liverpool side.

The Reds’ impressive record against their top-six rivals is held up as proof they are at their best against high-calibre opposition who go toe-to-toe with them.

By the same token, the fact their four damaging league defeats have come against clubs in the bottom half of the table is used to illustrate their struggles trying to break down those teams who park the bus.

How else do you explain that Klopp’s Liverpool have claimed the scalps of Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham this season but been beaten by Burnley, Bournemouth, Swansea and Hull?

Klopp has no time for suggestions that it’s a question of attitude or application. He’s also adamant that Liverpool haven’t been ‘found out’ by the lesser lights who sit deep, defend in numbers and then hit them on the counter attack.

The Reds boss says it comes down to “fresh legs and fresh minds”.

If that’s the case then there will be no room for excuses when Liverpool return to action against struggling Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Monday night after a 16-day break.

“A good example is really 31st of December and 2nd of January,” Klopp told the ECHO.

“We played an outstanding game against an outstanding Manchester City side and had to run like devils.

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“Two days later we played a different game against Sunderland. It was like a different kind of sport. It’s not a problem but we need to always be spot on.

“It was like playing against a wall but we scored two goals against a deep defending team. It wasn’t like Sunderland had 500 chances, they scored two penalties against us.

“Those kind of games against Sunderland, Hull or whoever, don’t show that we cannot perform or that we don’t have a plan against deep defending teams.

“I’d say we actually have the opposite. We have a real plan for these kind of games. But you also need fresh legs, fresh in your mind, good movement, all that stuff, to make the plan really work.

“We haven’t been the luckiest team in the league until now with injuries and decisions but we have to accept it.

(Image: 2016 Getty Images)

“We have shown in enough matches this season that we know what to do and we have to do that for the rest of the season.”

With key players unavailable or absent due to injury, Liverpool endured a wretched start to 2017 as they struggled to get to grips with a hectic schedule. They were dumped out of both domestic cups and fell off the pace in the Premier League title race as a lack of depth was exposed.

However, victory over Tottenham at Anfield stopped the rot as they played with an energy and an intensity going forward which had been lacking since the turn of the year.

That contest also showed the value of having a full week to prepare on the training ground. With no other distractions, It’s a luxury Liverpool will be afforded for the rest of the season as they look to secure a Champions League spot.

“It’s not just about only having one game a week,” Klopp added.

“We played some great football last season when we had three games a week.

“But when we have had all the boys together, and I’m not just talking about the first XI, we have shown we are really able to play good football.

“I know in this moment everyone knows we have played really well against top teams and then not good enough against other teams.

“But ask teams around what is absolutely the most difficult thing to do? It’s to perform well against top teams. We’ve shown we can do it.

“It’s been good experience for us. We are always competitive and that’s the most important thing.

“Each team can beat each team in the Premier League. We have shown it already.”

On the back of a successful training camp in La Manga last week, Klopp’s preparations for the showdown with Leicester have continued apace at Melwood this week. He knows that Liverpool must use that triumph over Spurs as a launchpad for the challenges ahead.

“That was how we have to play,” he said.

“We were outstanding offensively in the first half and defensively in the second half.

“Before that a few things happened in different games which weren’t so nice but I’m really fine.

“Now with 13 games to go, I have no time for looking back. I’m only looking in the right direction.”