SPARTAK ATTACK ATTACK
FOR those who question Liverpool’s resolve under pressure, Jurgen Klopp’s words before their date with Champions League destiny must have come as a surprise.
Bring on the pressure, the ebullient German said, making no attempt to play down the importance of tonight’s showdown with Spartak Moscow at Anfield, where winner takes all and loser skulks out of the competition.
For a team that seemed to buckle under the pressure of a Sevilla fightback from 3-0 down in the last round of matches, that is something of a bold statement, but then the Reds boss has genuine faith in his side’s development.
He also has faith in their ability to put any opponent under pressure with their lightning-quick attack.
There have been hiccups along the way, he explained, but in all the big games on the journey towards the knock-out stages – a destination Liverpool haven’t reached for almost nine years – they have shown strength and resolve under pressure.
“There is pressure because we are going for something big – that is what make-or-break means,” he said.
“But we had that pressure against Middlesbrough at the end of last season and Hoffenheim in the play-off round and we handled it well – now we have to do it again.
“Spartak are a good side. They have one more game and then a three-months break.
They have their targets LIVERPOOL TV TIMES: Live on BT Sport 2 from 7pm important for us, it is very big.”
Klopp welcomes back Joe Gomez and Ragnar Klavan to his injury-hit defence, which means he can now select from a near full-strength squad.
The German knows his side will be under pressure in a game they and we have ours. We don’t want to make it any more important but it is big. All the good and bad things that have happened in the Champions League – mostly good – have brought us to this situation. If we win we are through, and that is cool!”
Klopp acknowledges “a lot of people might think we should be already through”, but he prefers to see the game against the Russian giants as another opportunity for his young team to S MOSCOW must not lose, but he has told them to prove they are on the right course in Europe.
A draw is enough to go through, but he insisted his team must play to win. “You don’t have guarantees in life, but if you don’t try all you get nothing, so let’s try and see where it leads,” he added.