COMMENT: Undermanned. Underwhelming. Even it comes at a major cost, Jurgen Klopp has gone looking for an advantage, any advantage, to give his Liverpool a jolt ahead of hosting Arsenal Saturday night...
It was tactical. But also legitimate. Klopp calling out the Anfield crowd after their Carabao Cup rout of West Ham in midweek. With the focus switching to Saturday's blockbuster, the manager knows he needs every advantage he can find hosting the Premier League leaders. And as we say, even it means insulting his own support, he'll take the calculated risk and do it.
"I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me," confirmed Klopp in the Cup aftermath.
"I asked people: 'What do they want?' We changed a lot of things and we dominated West Ham like crazy and missed chances. If I was in the stands, I would be on my toes, 1,000%.
"If it is too much football in December, I'm sorry, we have to play as well. If you are not in the right shape, give your ticket to somebody else..."
Klopp's reaction was legit. He didn't pluck this out of thin air. The German, particularly in the first-half, routinely turned to the Main Stand and gesticulated in attempts to rouse the fans behind him. There's clearly a concern about the atmosphere at Anfield this season - something which former players have also raised.
But the probe into the why's and wherefore's isn't for Klopp. At least not today. He simply needs Anfield to be on their game for Saturday. It's snuck up on us, but this is a real six-pointer. With Manchester City stumbling as they are, Klopp spies a new title chance. Even with a team clearly in transition, Liverpool have played their way into being genuine contenders. It's just unfortunate that the timing of this second v first showdown arrives as it does.
They're undermanned. And somewhat out of form. That rebuilt midfield is suddenly looking shaky. Alexis Mac Allister will remain sidelined with a knee injury. The demands of the Premier League have suddenly caught up with Dominik Szoboszlai. And there's some doubt over whether Ryan Gravenberch will be fit enough to start.
So the team will hinge on the Japan international, Wataru Endo, holding things together at No6. As admirable as Endo was against a weakened West Ham in midweek, Prem leaders Arsenal on Saturday will be something very different. The player that Jorge Schmadtke has hung his reputation on will have it all to prove against Declan Rice and co.
So Klopp needs them. He needs the Reds support. Under the lights, Anfield needs to be cauldron. Arsenal will arrive with a superior squad in superior form. But as Newcastle and Aston Villa have shown. Or better, the Gallowgate and Holte Ends. This Gunners team, away from home, can wilt. They can be rattled. As good as they've been these past 18 months, it's still a young team at the beginning of their cycle. Question marks about leadership, particularly away at hostile grounds, are yet to be answered.
Klopp knows this. He knows what a heaving Anfield can do to teams. And this one could be a watershed. Blow Arsenal away - as Unai Emery's Villa did just weeks ago - and you question the mental damage that would have on Mikel Arteta's players. It could mean a recovery period that would bleed into next season.
But in contrast - and this is what Arsenal's manager is banking on - victory at Anfield would mean so much more than three points. Against a direct rival. At a heaving, hostile away ground. That niggling doubt for this youthful Arsenal team would be shattered. It would be a transformative moment in their cycle.
It's a match of opportunity. For Arteta and Arsenal it's one for growth. For Klopp and Liverpool, it's a chance to derail. But he needs that advantage. He needs the home support to be up for it from minute one. The manager and his players can't wait for an Arsenal player to take a swing at Trent Alexander-Arnold or Arteta to lose his rag with Klopp's staff, "We need Anfield on their toes from the first second, without me having an argument with the opposition coach or whatever." Indeed, the game could be out of sight by then.
Better players. Better form. On paper, Arsenal win at Liverpool on Saturday. But the game doesn't work like that. Liverpool have an advantage. Klopp knows this. Forget the two teams, the biggest question is: will Liverpool's support be up for a full 90 on Saturday?
