Arsenal will test us, says Klopp
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp believes Arsenal still represent a major test for his side’s credentials despite no longer being a Champions League team.
Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for European football’s elite competition for the first time since Arsene Wenger took over as manager in 1996.
But Klopp maintains they are still one of English football’s best sides and expects a tough game despite securing home and away wins over the Gunners last season. “Arsenal are still an outstandingly strong side,” Klopp said.
“Alexis Sanchez is probably back for the first time on the pitch, so that gives this team another boost and that is, of course, an advantage for Arsenal.
“It’s a very, very, very important game. Last year we had an outstandingly good record against the top six.
“It is Arsenal: big experience, big quality, speed, technical skills, different systems, good players in each position on the pitch.”
Liverpool swaggered to a Champions League playoff victory over Hoffenheim on Wednesday with a fine attacking performance.
Question marks remain over the strength of the Merseyside club’s defence, although Klopp claims he is satisfied with the performance of his backline so far this season. “I am fine with defence, I am fine with the offence,” added the Liverpool boss.
“We’ve won three games and should have won the first one at Watford without a perfect performance. Now we play Arsenal and that’s the situation.
“We work with the things we have, we work on the mistakes we make, we work to make the strengths even stronger. That’s what we do all of the time after we’ve recovered from the last game.”