Liverpool play Arsenal on Friday at the Emirates to kickoff the weekend’s Premier League fixtures. Liverpool defeated the Gunners 4-0 in the teams’ first meeting in August. However, Arsenal have improved since that meeting. With the two sides preparing to face off, Jurgen Klopp sent a warning to Liverpool’s defence in a press conference on Wednesday.
Liverpool currently sit fourth in the Premier League, but the team have given up the most goals of teams in the top seven. Liverpool and Arsenal, in fact, have given up the joint must goals of the top seven teams, and Klopp knows Liverpool’s defence must stand strong at the Emirates, if the Reds have any hope of winning.
“We have to be really, really strong defensively in that game, Otherwise we don’t have a chance,” Klopp said during a news conference on Wednesday.
“It’s Arsenal… you have quite a talented group there and they can create chances as well. All the players need to be spot on in this specific part of the game. They are a complete football team. They are able to do everything.
“There are things to work on, that’s how football is… The numbers are important and only four in the last nine is good but it’s again in the past. On Friday we have to be ready for a different challenge.”
Liverpool’s defence could have centre-back Joel Matip back for the holiday fixture list. He is recovering from a thigh injury and returned to training this week. Unfortunately, Klopp will not be able to call on Matip on Friday night.
Klopp also spoke about former Arsenal player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during his press conference. The midfielder will play against Arsenal for the first time since moving to Liverpool in August.
“He has became more and more a Liverpool player. So far we were lucky he is really fit,” Klopp said.
“The biggest improvement or potential he has is being involved in goal scoring situations. He has it in himself, but he was not asked to do it so much.”
