Bobby can silence Old Trafford noise

JURGEN KLOPP has vowed his Liverpool players won’t be intimidated by a raucous Old Trafford atmosphere.

The German earned his first win at Old Trafford last season at the seventh attempt, although that 4-2 triumph was played out without fans present.

Klopp (left) is confident his charges can repeat the trick in front of 70,000 baying United supporters after the perfect preparation at Atletico Madrid in midweek.

He said: “The United fans can create a proper atmosphere, I have to say.

“But we played against Atletico this week and it was incredible what they did. Sometimes I couldn’t understand my thoughts, it was that loud. I don’t want to say we are used to it but we did it from time to time, obviously.

“The atmosphere is always a massive thing for United at Old Trafford but it’s all a part of the game as well.

“Our job is to be really good there, to play the best possible football we can, and ignore or use the atmosphere as well.

“Our away guys will be there as well and in our moments they were really, really good there as well. I will never moan that we have to play at Old Trafford in an away game because it’s a really good atmosphere, two good teams face each other so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Plundered

Key to Liverpool’s hopes of overcoming their bitter rivals today could be Roberto Firmino, who has plundered five goals in his last four outings.

The Brazilian also scored twice during last season’s 4-2 win at Old Trafford but brings so much more than goals to the table in his manager’s eyes.

Klopp enthused: “Everybody loves Bobby, there is no doubt about that, the whole team, how could you not?

“If he would not be a nice person, the players would love him because he is doing all the work for them and it helps them.

“Mo and Sadio love him because he sets them up, passes the ball – not the last pass always but the second to last.

“All the midfielders love him because he is chasing all the offensive players of the opponents in their traps.

“And the last line loves him of course as well because of the same reason – Ali (Alisson) and him are anyway the best friends.

“He’s a very important player for us, he is a connector, he is the best offensive defender I ever saw in my life.

“He’s a ball-chaser, defensively incredibly smart with all the things he is doing, technically he is on the highest level and able to play in the smallest spaces, can make incredibly good decisions in a really short time, and on top of that scores goals as well.

“That’s why we’re all so happy when (he scores), or when he got a hat-trick last week.

“Everybody loves it because sometimes you think he is a bit short of getting the praise for the effort he puts in.”