Jurgen Klopp has told his Liverpool players that they cannot focus solely on preventing Erling Haaland when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday because the Sky Blues have too many other ‘world class players’.
A win for the Etihad side would see them 16 points clear of the Merseysiders and all but end the FA Cup champions’ hopes of Premier League glory, while three points for Liverpool would cut the deficit to 13 points and with a game in hand alongside Pep Guardiola.
Haaland has 15 goals in nine league games for the Citizens and Klopp insisted his team must prevent the Norwegian from receiving the ball as much as possible while also taking into account his City team-mates.
“He’s probably the best striker in the world, so we have to make sure he doesn’t get too many balls. That is what we will try,” Klopp said (quoted by Manchester Evening News). “Against City, the problem is that if you close Haaland with too many players, you open up gaps for all the other world-class players. It doesn’t make life easier. It is a challenge, a footballing problem and we try to find solutions”.
READ MORE: (Video) ‘Not the same player he was’: TalkSPORT presenter makes important Virgil van Dijk admission ahead of Man City clash
Haaland has already experienced scoring at Anfield when he scored for RB Salzburg in 2019 in the Champions League and the Norway international is confident of doing the same this time around.
He has hit the ground running in the Premier League since his summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund and Klopp explained that the 22-year-old is a “perfect fit” for Guardiola’s side.
The German continued: “He has the combination of being quite physical and technical. He knows where the offsides are, he reads well. So many things for a striker to do, and at City he has some of the best players around him setting up goals. It’s a perfect fit.
“It’s how it combines a lot of things. His finishing is obviously exceptional, but he moves very smartly, which makes him fast. You can only use speed if you use it wisely. you must make sure to be patient so as not to be out of the game. His whole package makes him special.”
Haaland is in top form, but Klopp has plenty of stars of his own who have been impressive recently.
Bobby Firmino has 12 goal contributions in as many games, while Mo Salah scored a six-minute hat-trick off the bench against Rangers on Wednesday.
It’s going to be another great battle between the two sides on Sunday, let’s hope we come out victorious.
Exclusive: Liverpool eye four Galatasaray talents as European scouts flock to Istanbul
