Jurgen Klopp insists all his players are ready to make an impact against Arsenal as Liverpool look to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Manchester United travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 15 days after being held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the Premier League.
Despite a long list of absentees, including Mohamed Salah and Endo Wataru, who will represent their country at the AFCON and Asian Cup, Klopp insisted his side can beat their title rivals.
“Every player in the squad who is in the same dressing room as us is ready to play,” Klopp said. “That’s right, there’s no doubt about it.“Four years ago we played Everton in the FA Cup and Curtis Jones sent the ball into the far corner.
It was one of the best nights of our lives. [It was] Everton, Derby, a very young team and somehow we won that game. Was awesome. But can you go to Arsenal and play against a team of boys?
If Arsenal were there, everyone would probably go, right?
Of course not. “We’re Liverpool, we can’t go on like this and we don’t have to.”He continued: “Yes, there will be another game in three days.
But we’re just getting past the era of playing five games in 13 days and no one asking us, “How are you feeling?”
We just have to go ahead and win.”Now there are two games in three days, so I’m thinking, ‘So where’s the problem?’ This is our life, this is the life of these people.
“We have to win but we can’t rest the players on Wednesday after six days (without a game). [The next] Premier League last 16 game against AFC Bournemouth, of course not.
That doesn’t make sense. not. “And pace is also important. So against Arsenal we all go and watch.Reds striker Diogo Jota is also aware of the challenge facing Liverpool and is not underestimating Arsenal despite their recent dip in form.
“Arsenal are a great team, there’s no doubt about that. They may not be in their best form at the moment but they are a big team and the performance at Anfield is proof of that,” Jota told Liverpool official site.
“It was very competitive, the teams fought each other and we ended up drawing, which we didn’t want. “Like I said, they’re not in their best form at the moment, so they’ll probably see this cup as a very important game for them.” We will get there and it will be 100% difficult, but we can get there and win.”
