Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has urged their fans to make Anfield unbearable for Arsenal when the two top sides in Premier League face off on Saturday.
The German tactician wasn’t very impressed with the atmosphere at the usually very electric Anfield on Wednesday during Liverpool’s 5-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham.
Now as they head into this three-pointer, Klopp has rallied Liverpool faithful to make the experience on Saturday a ‘proper Anfield experience’.
“I love it more when you are first and 55 points ahead, so then it is a pure joy,” Klopp said in his mandatory prematch interview.
“We are in the position we are and it is not that bad. We play a super strong team, a team that played a super strong season last time and coming back they are even better than last season.
“They bring in top players to improve the team, they already had top players, went through the Champions League pretty easily, and played a really good Premier League campaign.
“So it’s a massive game, great. It’s great to have them and meet them. We obviously met quite frequently, it’s good, but we have to make sure we make it a proper home game and a proper Anfield experience, that is all I want.”
Klopp wants Anfield to roar, and insists they want all the three points, but he admitted it won’t be an easy ride.
“Mikel [Arteta] built exactly the team he wanted. They are difficult to play against, they are a good mix between physicality, good technique, fast and they are well coached an well drilled. They make another step and really, my respect, but we want the points anyway.”
For Arteta, he expects nothing more than an invigorating vibe.
“It is going to be a special atmosphere for both teams and it is strong opposition. We will prepare to win it and go for it – it will be an intense match.”
Both managers gave updates on their teams. Jurgen Klopp said ‘Ryan [Gravenberch] is fine’, but Macca [Alexis MacAllister] and Diogo [Jota] will not be available tomorrow.
Jorginho missed Arsenal’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion with a foot injury and it remains to be seen if he can recover in time for Saturday’s game, while Mohamed Elneny returned to training this week after he limped off last week at PSV Eindhoven.
Jurrien Timber, Fabio Vieira, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey are the other injury victims for Arsenal who will miss the trip to Merseyside.
