West Ham United manager David Moyes has agreed with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp amid his recent comments regarding his previous achievements at Anfield.
The Liverpool boss is among a group of managers in this season’s Premier League whose sides have been performing below the standards of last year or previous seasons, something which Moyes can attest to, with Klopp and Moyes among the nine managers who are still at the club they started at in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool, who went into their game with Chelsea on Tuesday night eighth in the table and eight points shy of the top four, are a shadow of the side last season that finished second in the Premier League and Champions League and won the finals of last season’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
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The Reds spent 37 of the 38 Premier League matchweeks in the top four last season, 27 of which were in the top two. Compared to last season, they have not spent a single week in the top four this term.
In most other circumstances, Liverpool would have sacked long-standing manager Klopp, but by his own recent omission, his previous achievements at the club have prolonged his stay, having previously won all four trophies at the club.
“I think the elephant in the room is why I am still sitting here in this crazy world, last man standing,” said Klopp in a press conference on Monday.
Klopp added: “I am here to deliver, I know that 100%. I know as well I am still here for what happened in the last few years — I don’t like the fact and pretty much I have to rely on that."
For Moyes, he is perhaps experiencing a similar situation. In the past two seasons, they have finished sixth and seventh in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.
However, this season has been a far cry from that. Sunday’s 1-0 win over Southampton moved them up five places from 19th to 14th but only clear of the relegation zone by a single point.
Asked whether Klopp’s comments on living off past achievements were applicable to him, Moyes was short in his response, but did agree with his German counterpart.
“I agree with him,” Moyes briefly responded when asked about Klopp’s recent comments.
Prior to Moyes’ back-to-back successes, West Ham’s previous Premier League season ended in a 16th-placed finish, something that this term has been an unwanted reminder of.
Their were clear intentions from the club to build on that success, with West Ham spending around £160million on transfer fees for eight signings last summer, signing international stars with the hope of making West Ham an established club who were playing European football as a regularity, rather than a luxury.
Moyes admits while he wanted to build on European success this season, he was unable to and feels that anyone who thinks European football is a must is perhaps being too ambitious.
“Was finishing top seven realistic for West Ham fans in the years before?” Moyes added.
“I think the last two years have been the best West Ham have been in for a long time. If we are thinking that that’s now what is expected all the time then I would probably say that’s not correct expectations.
“There are plans to try and make that happen, but we haven’t been able to do that this year.”
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