Liverpool host Everton in a FA Cup third round clash at Anfield on Friday night and Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Anfield doesn’t require a team-talk when it comes to Merseyside Derbies.
“Sam (Allardyce) will have his team focused with the highest of motivation for this. His players will be extremely hungry to end our involvement in this season’s FA Cup,” Klopp wrote in his programme notes for ‘This is Anfield’.
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“Derby matches are wonderful, intense occasions at the best of times – but add in that this is in a knockout competition and under the lights, so early in the New Year, and that means both teams will recognise the importance and emotion involved with a game like this one,” the German tactician continued.
Liverpool are the favoured of the two sides ahead of the 230th Merseyside Derby, but it won’t be an easy win for they are missing two of their biggest and most in-form stars—Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah— for Friday’s clash.
“With such a big following coming from ‘across the park’, the atmosphere inside Anfield will be different as well. Their numbers are greater than for the league game, but I know that will only inspire our supporters even more for the job they have to do tonight.
Considering Liverpool’s Premier League title aspirations have been put on hold for yet another season, the FA Cup is the most realistic chance of silverware and the Reds will be wary of a wounded Everton side who have lost their last two league games on the bounce.
“I think back to the Leicester game on the 30th and the away end at Turf Moor on the 1st of January and remembering the noise and encouragement the team got from our supporters sends a tingle down my spine. They gave our players the extra yard – the extra spring – you need when facing the highest quality opposition, against the backdrop of a schedule designed to test every facet you have,” Klopp penned.
“Anfield needs no team-talk tonight. It knows it can play its part in helping us get the job done – and for that we are always grateful,” the Liverpool boss added.
