Jurgen Klopp heaps praise on Arsenal as mind games begin ahead of blockbuster clash
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Jurgen Klopp lauded Arsenal and ripped into his own side ahead of Liverpool’s blockbuster trip to the Emirates next Sunday.
Liverpool travel to north London a week tomorrow on October 9 as they look to recover from a dismal start to the season against Mikel Arteta’s league leaders.
Klopp’s side have won just two of their opening seven games and have fallen down to ninth in the table as the pressure continues to mount on the German.
It is a complete contrast to Arsenal, who sit top of the Premier League table after a superb start to the 2022-23 campaign, winning seven of their first eight games.
The Gunners ended Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the season on Saturday with an impressive 3-1 victory and Klopp has been impressed by Arteta’s team so far.
‘I know then Arsenal is coming and we saw glimpses of their game against Tottenham,’ he said after his side were held to a 3-3 home draw by Brighton.
‘They are outstanding in the moment so that is obviously not an easy game. But we will give it a proper try.’
Quizzed on his own side’s failures, Klopp admitted Liverpool ‘have to do better’ going forward, described current confidence as a ‘little flower’ which has been stomped on and hinted that his team are not listening to him.
‘I spoke to the boys in a similar way to how I speak to you,’ he said. ‘I don’t know how many times I have to say we need a reaction.
‘The first goal has an impact on both teams. They were flying and we were somewhere in between. They used that for the second goal.
‘We could have defended much better. It’s football and you have to accept it. On a day like this when it starts like this, it’s important to fight your way through.
‘It would be nice if you could win it. We always have problems against Brighton who are a very good football team but we have to do better.
‘I know we have 10 points and that’s the reality. I don’t hide from that. We have to go together and build.’
Klopp added: This game [against Brighton] has different stories. There is the story of how we conceded two early goals, there is the story of how we came back in the game, then there is the story of how we threw it away.
‘Brighton are a really good football team and a real team. It was a different formation, we were surprised a little bit? Yes a little.
‘But we were already 2-0 down when we adapted from that. We scored our goals which were the counter-attacks.
‘We could have won but would we have deserved to win? I’m actually not sure. Brighton deserved something.
‘With all the good things we did during the week the confidence is a little flower and when someone stamps on it, it is really difficult.
‘We have to accept it. Of course it is not enough for us but it is what we got.’
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