LONDON: If Liverpool are to be successful in ending an agonizing 29-year wait to win the Premier League, the next seven days will be the biggest test Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side will face all year, starting with Arsenal’s visit to Anfield today.
As the Merseyside club have traded blows with Manchester City since the season began, their clash on January 3 has been billed as a “title decider” for weeks, but Liverpool now have margin for error with a six-point lead at the top of the table.
Tottenham are Liverpool’s closest challengers with City slipping down to third and seven points adrift after three defeats in their last four league games.
That is more than the six points Liverpool have dropped all season so far as Klopp’s men remain unbeaten.
“What we said as well is that we want to create our own history. We are the first Liverpool team in the Premier League to be unbeaten in 19 matches — a little history and a nice step,” said Klopp.
Much more significant history awaits, particularly if Liverpool can remain unbeaten after a frantic festive period.
“We have to win our games, we have to be focused, we need to be really in the mood with having tunnel vision,” added Klopp. “That’s really important and then we will see where it leads us.”
Arsenal are one of three sides to have held the league leaders in a 1-1 draw in November and contain the attacking potential in the Premier League’s top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to trouble a Liverpool side that has conceded just seven goals this season.
“There are two tough games now: Arsenal and (Manchester) City. We need to keep this momentum,” said defender Dejan Lovren.
“We have big character in the squad. If you want to be at the top, you need to have the winning mentality and the calmness.”
City will he hoping for a favor from Arsenal, or they could find themselves 10 points off the top when they kick off at a revitalized Southampton under Ralph Hasenhuettl on Sunday.
“The less important issue is Liverpool, we have to think about Southampton,” insisted Pep Guardiola.
“I don’t forget who we are, how good a team we are, how exceptional the lads I have in the locker room are.
“The reality is we have lost three in four games and the last two. If you want to be real contenders you have to win again. If you don’t, it will not be possible.”
However, Guardiola did send a warning to Liverpool that is much harder to cope with the tag of title favorites as City did last season and until their recent slump this campaign.
“From January, February last season people said, ‘The Premier League is over’. To live with that is not easy,” added the Catalan.
Tottenham have largely managed to escape the focus of attention as title contenders, but can no longer be ignored after smashing 11 goals in their last two games to thrash Everton 6-2 and Bournemouth 5-0.
“The season is fantastic where from the beginning, no one believed in us much,” said Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, whose side host Wolves on Saturday.
“We need to prepare not only physically but also our minds to be strong because it’s going to be tough to compete in the second half of the season.”
Manchester United have a great chance to continue their revival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when a Bournemouth side that have lost eight of their last 10 games visit Old Trafford.
Fresh from scoring eight goals in victories over Cardiff and Huddersfield, United’s attacking options could be further boosted by the returns of Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial from injury and illness.
And Solskjaer warned United stars Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez they should follow Paul Pogba’s example if they are to revive their careers at the club. I cannot do anything for their performances on the pitch,” said Solskjaer.
“Paul has done it himself. It’s up to them when they get a chance. That’s the name of the game as a footballer, you’ve got to do it yourself.”
He said he can advise the players but ultimately it is down to them to change their attitude.
“I gave some guidelines of course, on expression, freedom of expression, but that’s how I’ve always been as a manager. You can’t tell the players what to do in this position,” said the 45-year-old Norwegian.
“Just enjoy playing for this club, that’s the best time of your life.”
As the Merseyside club have traded blows with Manchester City since the season began, their clash on January 3 has been billed as a “title decider” for weeks, but Liverpool now have margin for error with a six-point lead at the top of the table.
Tottenham are Liverpool’s closest challengers with City slipping down to third and seven points adrift after three defeats in their last four league games.
That is more than the six points Liverpool have dropped all season so far as Klopp’s men remain unbeaten.
“What we said as well is that we want to create our own history. We are the first Liverpool team in the Premier League to be unbeaten in 19 matches — a little history and a nice step,” said Klopp.
Much more significant history awaits, particularly if Liverpool can remain unbeaten after a frantic festive period.
“We have to win our games, we have to be focused, we need to be really in the mood with having tunnel vision,” added Klopp. “That’s really important and then we will see where it leads us.”
Arsenal are one of three sides to have held the league leaders in a 1-1 draw in November and contain the attacking potential in the Premier League’s top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to trouble a Liverpool side that has conceded just seven goals this season.
“There are two tough games now: Arsenal and (Manchester) City. We need to keep this momentum,” said defender Dejan Lovren.
“We have big character in the squad. If you want to be at the top, you need to have the winning mentality and the calmness.”
City will he hoping for a favor from Arsenal, or they could find themselves 10 points off the top when they kick off at a revitalized Southampton under Ralph Hasenhuettl on Sunday.
“The less important issue is Liverpool, we have to think about Southampton,” insisted Pep Guardiola.
“I don’t forget who we are, how good a team we are, how exceptional the lads I have in the locker room are.
“The reality is we have lost three in four games and the last two. If you want to be real contenders you have to win again. If you don’t, it will not be possible.”
However, Guardiola did send a warning to Liverpool that is much harder to cope with the tag of title favorites as City did last season and until their recent slump this campaign.
“From January, February last season people said, ‘The Premier League is over’. To live with that is not easy,” added the Catalan.
Tottenham have largely managed to escape the focus of attention as title contenders, but can no longer be ignored after smashing 11 goals in their last two games to thrash Everton 6-2 and Bournemouth 5-0.
“The season is fantastic where from the beginning, no one believed in us much,” said Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, whose side host Wolves on Saturday.
“We need to prepare not only physically but also our minds to be strong because it’s going to be tough to compete in the second half of the season.”
Manchester United have a great chance to continue their revival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when a Bournemouth side that have lost eight of their last 10 games visit Old Trafford.
Fresh from scoring eight goals in victories over Cardiff and Huddersfield, United’s attacking options could be further boosted by the returns of Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial from injury and illness.
And Solskjaer warned United stars Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez they should follow Paul Pogba’s example if they are to revive their careers at the club. I cannot do anything for their performances on the pitch,” said Solskjaer.
“Paul has done it himself. It’s up to them when they get a chance. That’s the name of the game as a footballer, you’ve got to do it yourself.”
He said he can advise the players but ultimately it is down to them to change their attitude.
“I gave some guidelines of course, on expression, freedom of expression, but that’s how I’ve always been as a manager. You can’t tell the players what to do in this position,” said the 45-year-old Norwegian.
“Just enjoy playing for this club, that’s the best time of your life.”
