Jurgen Klopp already making excuses vs Arsenal as Liverpool
boss piles pressure on Mikel Arteta
Arsenal travel to Anfield on Saturday with the hope of
putting some distance between themselves and their title rivals Liverpool with
a first league victory at the Merseyside ground since 2012.
Mikel Arteta has failed so far the land a victory against
Jurgen Klopp in the league at his home patch but the German has cited an
advantage the Gunners will have.
Liverpool beat West Ham United in the League Cup
quarter-final at Anfield on Wednesday night. It was a game which showed the
Reds back at their dominant best but Klopp was not happy with the atmosphere
inside the ground.
Knowing the challenge arriving this weekend, Klopp called on
the crowd to be noisier and not rely on a bust-up with Mikel Arteta to spark
them into life. He was of course referencing the argument he had with Arteta
during the 2021/22 season that led to a reaction from his players on the way to
a 4-0 win.
"We need Anfield on Saturday," Klopp said. “Without
Anfield, I would say… [Arsenal] didn’t play this week, just to make sure – I
know, I’m sorry – they didn’t play, they prepare for this game.
“Anyone who knows just a little bit about them knows they
will be prepared, so we need Anfield on their toes from the first second,
without me having an argument with the opposition coach. Whatever, we need you
from the first second.
“If it is too much football in December, I don’t know, sorry,
we have to play it as well. But, if you are not in the right shape, give your
ticket to somebody else."
Interestingly, amongst the calls for more noise there was
something of an early excuse in there from Klopp. Highlighting that with
Arsenal not involved in the League Cup, they have more days to prepare whilst
Liverpool have less time to recover.
Klopp still chose to bring on all three of Mohamed Salah,
Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold despite initially resting them with places
on the bench. The Reds will be without Alexis Mac Allister it seems, however,
who suffered an injury in the 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
Arsenal know a win takes them top at Christmas whereas a
defeat would produce the same for the home side. Draw, however and Unai Emery’s
Aston Villa could instead top the pile on the big day opening up a whole new
can of worms regarding retrospectives.
A win for the Gunners would represent a significant milestone
in their progress under Mikel Arteta. Compared to the last time the teams met,
William Saliba is fit to play and the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz are
new additions that were not there before – replacing Granit Xhaka who famously
sparked the crowd after having a coming together with Alexander-Arnold.
Source: Arsenal- Football.London
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