Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called sunday to play Manchester City at Etihad, live on Sky Sports, the “toughest game in world football. “
The champions of the Premier League face the toughest control of defending their name so when they face the team of Pep Guardiola, unbeaten in 8 games in all competitions.
Liverpool, the league leader, have five more problems than City, having played one more game, and could be a potentially early scorer for this season’s name race.
Only one of the last 10 league matches between City and Liverpool has been won through the away team, and Klopp is aware of the challenge his players face.
“It’s a very complicated game for both teams,” Klopp said. “A lot of things are different this year, nothing can be compared to last year or the year before.
“I like that kind of game, I like preparation, but it doesn’t make things easier, it’s just a complicated task. “
Regarding the challenge of being away from home, Klopp said: “We love betting on Anfield. It’s our house and it makes a difference, but I don’t think there’s a difference in our technique for home and away games.
“It’s not like we need to dominate at home and as a deep team. By saying that, unlike Man City, that’s exactly what it can do because of the quality they have.
“We lost there last year, but it’s not a game I like with everyone else because 3 days before we fit in England champions, it was a pretty special moment for us.
“No matter if we play at home or outside, it’s vital to compete with our own plan, be brave, play football and protect with everything we have. Then we’re going to have a chance. “
“It’s very difficult. It’s the toughest game in the world. “
The Reds boss says he doesn’t have time to communicate about a two-horse race between his team and City.
He praised the qualities of Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham and warned that they opposed cancelling Manchester United for the time being.
“Every season starts at zero, we all have the same opportunity,” Klopp said. “This two-horse race thing ” was never an expression I used or an idea I would use.
“I’m only interested in one horse and that’s us.
“Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Leicester are good. Everton, unfortunately, good.
“Maybe I forgot someone. Manchester United, other people cancel early enough and in the end they will be there too.
“We all fight for champions league positions and when they’re close enough, they can be champions at the end of the season.
“I don’t know who will be the most productive horse at the end of this season. “
Klopp also presented a passionate defense by striker Roberto Firmino, following complaints about his lack of goals.
The Brazilian has scored only once this season and replaced in the starting lineup for the Champions League clash in Atalanta through new recruit Diogo Jota, who scored his first hat-trick for the Reds in a 5-0 goal in Bergamo.
“I don’t have to say a word about Bobby Firmino and how vital it is to us, I don’t spend time with that,” Klopp said.
“It made a difference in so many games without scoring. I’d be embarrassed if I had to mention Bobby Firmino’s qualities.
“I can’t those other people if they don’t see it. “
Thiago Alcantara is out of the clash with Manchester City, central defender Joel Matip is back in a shove by Jurgen Klopp.
In the midst of a torrid month of fitness that also knocked out Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho, Alcantara has missed five games since suffered a knee injury in the Merseyside derby in October.
Klopp has shown that he has walked away from surgery, but will not play in the massive clash against the name of his rival City, while Spain also showed that he was not part of their foreign team without delay afterwards.
“No, he’s not ready. Klopp says. ” No surgery was required, however, there has been an injury, so you can look at it day by day.
“The more you are absent, the more you will have to exercise before you look at it again. Thiago probably wouldn’t be there for us on Sunday and that’s it. “
In his central half, however, the German said, “Yes, Joel [Matip] is back and it was seven, eight, nine days and, after the match, there will be 14 days for him. Let’s see what we can do. “
Fabinho is still expected to be absent until the foreign break because of a corva tendon problem, having been replaced in the upcoming Brazilian squadron by Allan del Everton, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also remains absent for the long term.
Jamie Carragher in the box of a preview podcast:
“I still can’t believe anyone but Liverpool or Manchester City wins the championship. I can’t see that. I know Tottenham has started very well and I hope they have a wonderful season and there are more rivals, but I can’t. “I see someone else raising this league name apart from the two greats of recent years.
“He had been very strong in putting Liverpool as a favourite for the title, but because of the injury of Virgil van Dijk, not only one of Liverpool’s most productive players, but also one of the most productive players in the Premier League. And if something similar had happened, it happened to, say, Kevin De Bruyne for Man City, who is his most productive man, I think you’d say the same thing about the City. I think it’s an even more engaging career, without a doubt. “
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