Kuyt fires a Reds alert to Pep and his City slickers
Dirk Kuyt has warned Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players that whatever else they’ve done, they will never have experienced anything like a Champions League night at Anfield.
The Dutch striker was at Liverpool for six years, and was part of many memorable European evenings in front of the Kop.
He played in semifinals against Chelsea in 2007 and 2008, the latter after a quar ter- final against Arsenal.
City fans have failed to warm to the Champions League and have sometimes struggled to fill the Etihad, resulting in a less-than-intense atmosphere at games.
Kuyt believes that this could mean the first leg next Wednesday can give his former club a distinct advantage.
“European nights at Anfield were the best of my career,” says Kuyt, who called time on playing at the end of last season.
“It’s definitely an advantage to Liverpool. All opponents know that.
“City are doing great in the Champions League and in the Premier League but to come here on a Champions League night is something very different even for them.
“They know it won’t be easy to go to Anfield and win the game.
“I don’t know if there’s much difference playing against an English team or a side like Real Madrid or Barcelona.
“We played many special Champions League games against the English teams.
“We beat Chelsea on penalties in 2007, and beat Arsenal before losing to Chelsea the following year.
“When you play in quarter- finals and semifinals, you don’t think about whether your opponents are coming from Germany, Spain, Italy or England. You just want to beat them.
“I watched the League game against City at Anfield and it was maybe Liverpool’s best showing of the season.
“I think they’ve stepped up their game over the last couple of months.
“Can they win the Champions League? It’s one step at a time, but we never can predict who’s going to win a trophy. It’s football, so they have a chance, and so do City.”
Kuyt played 286 times for Liverpool before returning to his former club Feyenoord via Turkey and ending his career in spectacular fashion with a hat-trick in his final game to clinch the League title.
And he’ s been impressed with the contribution being made by the Dutchmen who have succeeded him as potential Liverpool legends.
“I think Giniwijnaldum and Virgil van Dijk are great players and I’m very proud of them,” he says.
“Gini has scored some very important goals for the club. Virgil has just arrived but he’s doing well.
“Also he’s just been given the captaincy of the national team, so he’s making good steps.”