Each match is the most important game of our lives
IT IS a record-equalling opening to a campaign, and the biggest lead at this stage in Premier League history.
It is Liverpool’s best chance of winning the title during their 30-year quest to become champions once more.
According to Alex OxladeChamberlain though, Jurgen Klopp’s side must now shut out that noise and focus on what has put them into this position.
“When Man City were so far out in front a couple of seasons ago, they would have had all of these sort of things to come up against,” he explained.
“There will always be talk, whether it’s people trying to turn positive situations into a bit of a negative one. That’s the way it will happen.
“So every time we step on the pitch we’ve got to give 100 per cent. We’ve got to make sure it’s the most important game of our lives every time we play and that’s the message the manager keeps giving us.” That is the key to Liverpool’s season. Oxlade-Chamberlain speaks openly of a mentality that allows the team to believe they will win every time they step out.
But more than that, he also identifies a desire that produces victory, even when they do not produce the free-flowing football Klopp preaches.
“There are times in my career where I definitely haven’t gone into all games 100 per cent confident the team’s going to win,” he explained.
“With this team, I have that sort of belief in us. But it’s more. The togetherness of the team when things aren’t going well – we still have a clear picture of the ideas, the way that we’re going to win the game.
“Whether it has worked for 85 minutes doesn’t seem to really matter for us. We just keep going and I think that’s how we’ve won a few games.
“I’ve been in fantastic teams when everything’s going great, we’re unbelievable and when we have an off-day we have an off-day.
“The good thing at the minute with this group is when we’re having off-days, we’re still coming away with good results. We’re sticking to our basics and principles.
“It’s our job to make sure that keeps happening.
“With this sort of pressure and the quality around you, there might be a time where results don’t go so well and people maybe close the gap a little bit. We’ve got to be ready for those moments mentally as a team to just keep going.”
And the Ox also claims there is no chance of complacency, with the quality of the wise old heads in the dressing room.
“The manager insists that the leaders in our team – Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Virgil van Dijk – demand the most of all of us, themselves first and foremost and then the rest of us. “It’s the sort of expectations that we have on each other and I think that’s the mentality you need to be successful. “Then you have to let history take its course.”
PIERRE-EMERICK Aubameyang claims Freddie Ljungberg can give Arsenal “something special.”
Gunners legend Ljungberg has been put in temporary charge of the club following Unai Emery’s dismissal and has the chance to stake his claim for a permanent role.
He will hope to get a lift against Brighton on Thursday after already receiving backing in the dressing room.
Aubameyang said: “He can give us something special. He was part of the Invincibles. His career speaks for itself.
“We will try to follow him and give the best for him. Everybody is respectful of Freddie.As a player he knows how we feel.
“The mood is good. We’re all focused on one thing, to be back winning. “We did not have a perfect game [at Norwich] but a good job and we’ll try to win the next one.” Arsenal want to move quickly on a new manager and have put together a list of as many as 12 names. They include Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, ex-Spurs boss Mauricio
Pochettino and Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta.
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo and former Juventus boss Max Allegri are on the list but not seen as leading candidates.
Pochettino may not be willing to cross the North London divide and Arsenal fear they may not be able to lure Rodgers, despite his buy-out clause at Leicester.
Former chief executive Ivan Gazidis championed Arteta in 2018 but those who opposed him are still at the club.
Arsenal hope to whittle down the contenders to four or five within the week, with technical director Edu seen as the kingmaker as he will define the type of manager they want.
The name of the recommended choice will be taken to owner Stan Kroenke and his son, Josh.