ARSENAL v LIVERPOOL If Foxes Wenger blocking out the noisy neighbours can win the title then so can we!
KLOPP’S RALLYING CRY
ARSENE WENGER believes that disappointing Premier League campaigns by the two Manchester giants proves big spending is no guarantee of success.
Like Arsenal, both City and United trailed in behind shock champions Leicester.
And with Gunners fans baying for more high-profile signings, the club’s manager defended his policy of spending wisely – and only when the price is right.
To date, Wenger has spent £34million on Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach and £2m for Bolton defender Rob Holding. Wenger is also keen on Valencia central defender Shkodran Mustafi, Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester.
When it was pointed out to him that both City and United had spent considerable sums, Wenger (above) said: “Yes, and they signed a lot of players the year before as well.
“If you want to make everybody happy, then just buy 20 players and everybody is full of hope until the first game. And then we are back to reality.”
When it was suggested new faces bring a vibrancy to the club, he added: “Vibrancy does not win you games. What makes you win games is the quality of performance and the quality of your football. You have to focus just on that.
“There is always a demand for new. But new is just new. What is new makes news. But apart from that it makes noise. But the noise is not always quality.”
Wenger is concentrating on the season ahead – starting with Liverpool at the Emirates today – and is looking for improvements from his front players.
He admitted: “That is one of the domains where last year we were not the most efficient.
“We were the highest team in chances created in the final third. And we were not at our level in the finishing. That is where we want to improve.” JURGEN KLOPP has told his Liverpool stars that the sky’s the limit for their title aspirations this season.
The Anfield manager has cited Leicester’s astonishing triumph last season as the reason he’s refusing to set limits.
Klopp takes his team to the Emirates to face Arsenal today with many pundits writing off Liverpool’s chances of making a title tilt – or even squeezing into the top four – after a far from eye-catching transfer window.
But the German recalled a chat he had with Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri on Boxing Day that proved anything is possible.
“Leicester weren’t too confident at the beginning of the season, but then they became more confident with the results they were having,” said Klopp.
“Last season, after we beat them 1-0 at home, I said to Claudio, ‘Why shouldn’t Leicester be champions?’.
“He said, ‘Stop talking, there’s no chance’. But four weeks later they believed. That is how it is.”
Klopp is confident his side can mount a title challenge after signing seven players in the summer, including attacker Sadio Mane from Southampton, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle and Serbia youngster Marko Grujic.
“Look, why should I limit our expectations? I am sure at this moment, as sure as I can be, that we will be successful,” said Klopp.
“But I’m pretty sure 19 other teams think they can successful so I don’t want to set a limit.
“I want the players to open their minds and go for everything. We will fight for everything, each cup.
“We have to perform, we have to fight for everything. We have to go for everything.
“We cannot say that we don’t have a chance for this because right now we all have chances, but so do other clubs.
“We did the business we thought we needed. The players will not be an excuse for me, the moment they sign we share t he
responsibility. They are r esponsible f or t heir performances, I am responsible, too. It’s 50-50, let’s just try and do the best.”
Klopp plans to use champions Leicester’s template as an example of what can be achieved without the distractions of European football.
Liverpool have only domestic duties this season after finishing eighth – and Klopp is determined to take advantage, even if he will miss playing on the continent.
Positive
“We need to be in Europe. There is nothing positive about not being involved in Europe. Absolutely nothing,” he said. “Only more time to prepare for the next match, that is the only thing.” As he heads to London for the big kick- off, Klopp believes Liverpool have had t he perfect preparation for the new season. He added: “We had a really good transfer window and we have been playing together for three weeks now. “The young boys have done really well, and then the main players came back from the Euros. It was all very good, training together.”