Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp calls facing Manchester City the biggest challenge in football
Speaking to the press via the club’s official website, Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp termed the Manchester City fixture this weekend and facing the team in general “the biggest challenge” in football.
Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have grown from strength to strength and have won every Premier League title since 2017, bar the 2020 season wherein Liverpool clinched the title. With world-class players like Kevin de Bruyne, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Dias among others, Manchester City are a big threat in Europe as well, even if they have not won the UEFA Champions League yet.
How often do we see that a team gets 97 points and does not win the league? That was Liverpool’s fate in 2019. Manchester City won the league with 98 points and the Reds had to wait another year to end their league drought of 30 years.
Speaking of the fixture, Klopp said the following.
“Look, when you play City, results left and right are not really important because this game requires all your focus, requires all the things you know about football. It’s everything. I said it a couple of times, I enjoy preparing the game really but it’s anyway the biggest challenge you can face in football.”
Liverpool vs City
So intense and well-fought is the rivalry that the teams saw a balance last season and both fixtures resulted in a draw in the league. But the curtain raiser to this season saw Liverpool beat City 3-1 to win the FA Community Shield Trophy.
However, it is what has happened after that that actually matters. Liverpool are tenth in the league and are struggling to make ends meet. Only two wins from eight games. Meanwhile, City are second to Arsenal in the points table and sit in a comfortable position and have not lost in the league yet this season.
One thing which could change the fortunes for Liverpool is that the game is at Fortress Anfield. The atmosphere coming into this game would be somewhat confident given the Reds’ victory vs the Rangers 7-1 in their UEFA Champions League encounter.
It is extremely crucial that all of Liverpool’s players are at their absolute best. This match could shape the Reds’ season towards the business end of the campaign. Yes, the Merseysiders have not started well, but they could give the season a good finish.
More Liverpool News
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- Trent Alexander-Arnold talks about how he will react if he nets the World Cup winner
- Peter Crouch believes Liverpool versus Manchester City feels like a little one-sided game
Not many pundits have backed the Reds to get a result out of this game given their defensive submissiveness this season. Hopefully, things end up positively for Liverpool at the end of 90 minutes at Anfield.
