Looking ahead to after the international break, I’m excited by Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City. It’s a game that will tell us a lot about the credentials of this squad after a really strong start to the season. And, with what we’ve got up front, we can get at anyone with our strikers.
You’ve got to be on your guard at the Etihad, with the players they have, the movement they’ve got, and the manager at the centre of it all. You just can’t let them take the lead and be in a position where you’re chasing the game because that’s where City can hurt you. We’ve seen that so many times over the years since Pep Guardiola has been in the Premier League. It will be tough, I have no doubts about that, but we will have to dig in like we did against Newcastle earlier in the season, down to 10 men. Even a few weeks later at Tottenham when we went down to nine men, it’s all about having that steel, backing yourself to get the job done. We know this Liverpool team have got that in abundance; to defend for each other at every possible point in the game and be ready to take your chances when they fall our way. That’s how you win at the Etihad.
First of all, you’ve got to have that defensive mentality, all of them. Stop them doing what they are good at. Stopping Erling Haaland will be key, we’ve got to shackle him and not allow him to get any service. It’s easier said than done, of course.
I was, and still am, looking forward to this clash between two heavyweights at the top of the Premier League but I can’t help but feel it’s wrong that it has been scheduled for a 12:30pm kick-off on a Saturday. It isn’t the first time we’ve been asked to play these games straight after the international break, it’s wrong. It’s a joke. It’s an absolute joke. For whatever reason they keep picking us, it’s wrong.
I know Jurgen Klopp slammed the decision in his press conference after the victory over Brentford, and he’s right, but you can’t keep relaying that to the players because sometimes they might feel sorry for themselves. We’ve just got to get on with it. Look at what happened at Newcastle when we went down to 10 men, it’s all about that mentality. Let’s show them. We’ve got to use it as a motivation.
It just doesn’t make sense, whatever the reason behind it is. But it’s wrong. It’s a real shame and the powers that be need to look at these fixtures. Whatever happens at the Etihad in two weeks, it promises to be an exciting season with as many as four clubs looking capable of fighting for the Premier League title. Arsenal have got a much better set-up this season, Newcastle have found it tough, Tottenham have suffered a few setbacks recently. We’ve just got to keep on going and taking it game by game.
Of course, Manchester City have raised the bar in recent years but we know that Liverpool are more than capable of winning football matches.
