Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Liverpool must have a perfect record for the rest of the season, starting with Monday's trip to bitter rivals Manchester United, if they are to pip Arsenal and Manchester City to the Premier League title, manager Juergen Klopp has said.
Leaders Liverpool are two points clear of Arsenal and three ahead of City with eight games left in the season as Klopp looks to sign off with another trophy for the Anfield club following their Premier League triumph in the 2019-20 campaign.
Liverpool lost the title by a point in 2021-22 and asked if they would have to be 'perfect' to be crowned champions, Klopp said: "That's obviously how it is in the Premier League... So if it's a tight race then the best place you can be is in it.
"We are in it and that's cool, that's good. And now let's keep fighting, that's how it is. Obviously the next one is the big one, like they all are.
"Somebody said we had the best fixture list or schedule. I looked at it and I really don't know how you can have had that idea. Maybe I'm too negative but it's a tough one, good opponents. But we are ready and we want to be in that fight."
While the reverse fixture at Anfield ended in a 0-0 draw in December, Liverpool were beaten 4-3 by United in their FA Cup quarter-final last month when the hosts prevailed in extra time.
Klopp said his side were in control of the game but ran out of steam towards the end, especially in the extra period.
"The good news is we will not have twice 15 minutes extra-time. That was too much for us that day, we couldn't control it anymore, made mistakes we didn't make before at all and United turned the game around," Klopp added.
"United are a top side playing at home, we all know that. But we cannot just tell [the players], 'Let's do what we did from minute 15 to 70-something.' Football is not that easy.
"We have to find a way to cause United problems and they will try exactly the same. On that level, with this opponent, in this stadium (Old Trafford), we'd better play a really good football game if we want something there."
Ten Hag calls for calm
Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has warned the club's fans to avoid tragedy-related abuse when they host Premier League leaders.
Photo: AFP
The two sides met last month in a thrilling FA Cup tie where United came out on top in extra-time in a 4-3 win and Ten Hag said he wanted the fans to focus on replicating that same atmosphere again on Sunday.
"The atmosphere our fans generated was incredible that afternoon and if we can produce the same noise levels around Old Trafford, then we have already seen what a positive force it can be and the impact that it has on the players," Ten Hag said.
"As such, it is part of my duty to remind every supporter ... that it must be enjoyed in the proper way and not used as an excuse for abusing rival fans about Hillsborough, Heysel or any other historic tragedies."
Last month, United and Liverpool jointly launched an education programme through their foundations to tackle tragedy-related abuse.
The clubs have repeatedly condemned fans chanting in reference to the Hillsborough tragedy, the Heysel Stadium disaster and the Munich air disaster to mock opposition supporters, a practice liable to criminal prosecution.
"This is one of the truly great rivalries in world sport, for so many of the right reasons and it is our responsibility to keep it that way," Ten Hag added.
"Whether the clubs meet at Old Trafford or Anfield, all supporters must focus entirely on backing their team and both [Liverpool manager] Juergen [Klopp] and I trust that we can count on that happening."
United are sixth in the standings after losing 4-3 at Chelsea on Thursday at Stamford Bridge, where Ten Hag's side conceded twice in added time.
- Reuters