THE BOBBY DAZZLERS
said: “They have a great attacking trio, trio or maybe even an attacking four, but so have a lot of teams in the Premier League. There are a lot of great attacking players in the top six now.
“But it’s not just the attack that is going to win a game, it’s the defence, the whole team.
“That’s what we must try to do – stick together to get the win.
“It will be a very tough game. They have started the season as well as anyone else, especially when you look at their home form.
“Liverpool have a great crowd who really get behind their team and try to push them on, so we’re expecting a tough game.
“But we have been there before, we’ve picked up results there before, so we just have to concentrate on us and do what we can.
“We have to try to perform like we did against Red
Star.”
ROBERTO FIRMINO says Liverpool are a better side than the one which finished runners-up last season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side face Tottenham at Anfield today before taking on champions Manchester City on November 10.
Add a Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal in the middle and it’s a run of games which has effectively brought the pressure of the Christmas fixture list to Merseyside two months early.
But striker Firmino, known as Bobby by the Kop, is certain the Liverpool squad has learned enough from last year’s campaign to finish top this time.
“I think this team is stronger than last year,” he said. “When I look around, I see the strongest team.
“Winning the Champions League last season helped us because it showed our level – and this year I would say we have have improved even more. I have very positive feelings about the season.”
That’s exactly the kind of message Liverpool fans want to hear after almost 30 years without a league title. So, a morale-boosting victory over stuttering Tottenham, who lost to Liverpool in the Champions League final last season, could be crucial to bringing the dream a step nearer.
“It would show once again that we believe this is going to be our year in the Premier League. This year is our time,” said Firmino.
“But we have to be careful. At this moment we are the leaders and we are playing well. But we haven’t won anything yet. I learned long ago that in England anything can happen. Just dropping two or three points can leave you missing out on the title.”
That’s a lesson Liverpool learned last year as they saw the title slip away despite losing just once. So even a draw against Spurs today or at Aston Villa in early November could be a massive blow before they face City in a title crunch.
“They are complicated matches we face,” admitted Firmino.
“If we overcome them, then the way ahead will be even clearer for us. But what we learned last season, which I have already lived many times, is that in this league the last match of the campaign can still end up defining everything.”