02 February 2024 , 14:47
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Jurgen Klopp has spelt out the scale of title challenge facing Liverpool, claiming they must be perfect to win the Premier League in his final season.
Liverpool face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday in a huge game in the title race and Klopp says they must win all their remaining matches to stay ahead of Manchester City. Klopp knows the size of the task facing Liverpool and they are five points ahead of City, having played a game more, even though Pep Guardiola ’s champions have been below their brilliant best.
“What we’ve learned over the years is if you want to be around City then you’d better win all your football games because they do,” said the Liverpool boss. “This is the league, this is the time when City are dominating, that’s how it is.
“They play incredible stuff and would probably consider themselves not playing their very best season, but they are where they are. We play a very good season and in the moment are two points ahead of City, and they play the season they’ve had and are two points behind us, which is really interesting. So, that’s the situation we’re in.
“Arsenal, they beat us, they’re definitely there. If they don’t beat us, then ask them or other people, because I don’t know what that means.
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“We’ll try to make it as hard as possible for everyone who wants to finish the season above us. Let’s see if we can do that, it’s just what we want to try.”
While Liverpool will hope to come away from the Emirates with three points, City could capitalise on any slip-ups when they travel to Brentford on Monday night. City then have a favourable run leading up to the clash at Anfield with Liverpool on March 9.
Liverpool could be without striker Darwin Nunez for the trip to Arsenal on Sunday, after he picked up a knock in the midweek win over Chelsea. Nunez broke a Premier League record for rattling the woodwork four times during the match - including from a penalty, but did set up Luis Diaz to complete the 4-1 rout.
"It does impact him, he's a human being," Klopp said. "But he knows he'll get another chance. The penalty miss, that hit. A little side story, I don't know if Darwin is available [vs Arsenal].
"After 20 minutes someone stood on his foot. He left the stadium in a boot. Nothing broken, x-ray clear. But swollen. We have to see if his foot can get back in a boot."