Jürgen Klopp pulled out all the stops. “We need Anfield on Saturday from the start”said the team manager Liverpool FC and demanded before the cracking duel for the Christmas top spot in the Premier League his own fans and repeated: “We need you from the first second.”
The top game of the “Reds“against the league leaders Arsenal FC (Saturday, 6.30 p.m./live ticker on sportschau.de) electrifies England and brings Klopp once again to the highest operating temperature at the end of the year. If you find too much football in December, please pass on your ticket for the legendary Anfield stadium to someone else, the master coach added pointedly. He can’t get loud enough against the strong “Gunners” by coach Mikel Arteta.
One point separates the two top teams, but that’s not all Aston Villa must be counted: Arsenal lead the Premier League table with 39 points, now level on points with Aston Villa, who missed out on a win against Sheffield at the start of the match day. The LFC ranks just behind (38). The “Reds” scored one more goal than Arsenal (36:35). So it couldn’t be any closer between the two teams.
The “Reds” are top again
This season, Liverpool have long been a top team again and could impressively underline this with a statement win. A year ago, at the same point in the season, the traditional club was already left behind in the championship race. Now Klopp’s team is back in the thick of things and managed to reach the Europa League round of 16 as group winners. And on Wednesday this was followed by a 5-1 win against West Ham United also a place in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
But not everything was right for Klopp. While his team delivered, he was a little disappointed by the usually loud supporters and encouraged them accordingly: “If it was just a warm-up for Saturday, I’m happy.” Liverpool against Arsenal – the millions of spectators around the world are expecting another football spectacle.
Van Dijk: “Circle that goes on and on”
At a time when the Bundesliga professionals have already gone on vacation, their colleagues on the island have to continue to perform at their best. “Sleep well, eat well, get treatment, rest and play”is the recipe from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, “It’s the cycle that goes on and on.”
There is also play on Christmas Eve
The games will continue over Christmas – not just on the so-called “Boxing Day“, Boxing Day. For the first time in 28 years, a football game will kick off in the elite league on Christmas Eve. The Wolverhampton Wanderers then meet the Chelsea FC. The only game played on Christmas Eve since the Premier League was founded in 1992 was in 1995 Leeds United with 3:1 against Manchester United won.
In England there is traditionally no big celebration on December 24th. The gift giving will take place on the morning of December 25th. However, Klopp would like it for Saturday evening – with a win against the Gunners.