22 December 2023 , 22:30
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Jurgen Klopp has warned his Liverpool players that title rivals Arsenal are even better this season.
Liverpool will fight it out with Arsenal at Anfield to be the Christmas No 1 and Klopp says Mikel Arteta has improved the Gunners from last season’s close title miss. “We play a super-strong team, a team who played exceptional last season and coming back, are even better than last season,” said the Liverpool boss.
“They already had a top team, and bringing in really good players to improve the team did that. You bring in Rice and Havertz and it doesn’t make you worse. Raya in goal doesn’t make you worse.
“They went through the Champions League pretty easily and have played a really good Premier League campaign. Mikel could build exactly the team he wants. They are difficult to play, they are a good mix between physicality - big, strong, fast players - good technique, very good organisation, really well coached, well drilled and you see every year they make another step.
“It’s a massive game. It’s great to have them, great to meet them. We have to make sure we make it a proper home game, a proper Anfield experience.” Klopp feels this season’s title race could be a classic with at least four teams in the mix and he says Liverpool will be difficult to beat if they perform at their top level.
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“Being top of the table is pretty much the best thing to be, but it’s only important if you’re there at the end of the season,” he said. “It will not happen that anyone runs away, that’s how it looks this season. That makes the title race a real title race.
“Whoever wants to win this league has to be super-consistent throughout the season, it was always the case. Who will be most consistent with the quality up there, has a good chance to do it.
“You have to perform because performance is the mother of the result and if we perform at the top level, we’re difficult to play and if we do that, we have a chance. If not, then Arsenal or whoever will win that race.”