Jurgen Klopp has vowed to go on the attack against Manchester City as he told his Liverpool players: “We have to be brave.”
The Reds boss, who urged an expectant Anfield crowd to take the atmosphere to “the next level”, believes the stage is set for a thriller in the club’s first Champions League quarter-final for nine years.
Klopp is under no illusions about the size of the challenge facing Liverpool but insists they have the bold game plan required to stun Pep Guardiola’s men.
“They are the best team in Europe at the moment and so that makes it quite difficult,” Klopp said.
“What they do, they do at the highest level, but we still know there’s a chance, it is possible to defend it.
“If you are brave, if you are ready to make mistakes, if you are ready to enjoy the work and your attitude is at the highest level, if your character is at the highest level, then you have a chance. That’s the only thing I need.
Liverpool showed courage and fearlessness when they ended City’s unbeaten Premier League record at Anfield back in January.
Klopp says that same level of intensity and tempo must be replicated as they look to secure a lead to take to the Etihad next week.
“It is much easier to say than to do,” he said. “Use the spaces. Go into the challenge, try to win it.
“Be next to someone, try to help them. Be there, not waiting or thinking ‘wow! Who is coming? Who can take the ball?’ Be lively. Everything we do with the ball can cause City problems.
“It’s difficult to be brave against them because you can suffer. Pep couldn’t play the football he plays without these players. He’s smart enough to bring them all together.
“I couldn’t play the football I play without my players because if I say ‘Go there when we have the ball’ and they have no speed then it makes no sense.
“You need to have a plan for your players and then it is a mix of quality and character.
“Sitting back is not a solution against City. Be there where there is a chance to get the ball. If we can win it then we have a chance. If not? It is very, very difficult.”
Klopp enjoyed some memorable nights at Anfield en route to the Europa League final two years ago but this is the Champions League.
The manager has felt the buzz around the city. Not since 2009 have the Reds competed at this stage of the competition and the decibel levels will be cranked up considerably for City’s visit.
“Everybody knows what they have to do,” he said.
“If you think you did your best job already – maybe Dortmund, maybe Villarreal – then come on bring yourself to the next level.
“That’s what we need. It’s the strongest opponent we could get. If we can make an advantage with the atmosphere then let’s try it.
“I know the atmosphere will be brilliant before we start the game but then we have got a big part to play in it.
“Everyone is expecting a lot from us. It will be a close game. I am sure everything will be prepared for a classic atmosphere. And if we deliver, it will be outstanding.”
For all the pre-match talk about the attacking might on both sides, the tie is likely to be defined by Liverpool’s ability to handle the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne.
Klopp is down to the bare bones defensively after losing Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan to injury.
However, he is still able to pick what is virtually a first choice backline with Virgil van Dijk alongside Dejan Lovren, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
This is the kind of night when Liverpool need Van Dijk to show why they splashed out £75million to secure his services.
“If we are not at our best, we have no chance. If we are at our best then we have a chance and it will be really interesting,” Klopp said.
“I respect Pep a lot. I really think he the best manager in the world. What he is doing is unbelievably difficult to defend but you can defend it. Be active, be lively.
“With one touch their wingers are on their bike. One touch and Sane is away, Sterling is away, it’s like being on the motorway.
“We saw their game against Everton. We don’t defend like Everton obviously but they had the stretched formation with Sane inside.
“They did the same against us but it didn’t work because we took up different positions. We are different but in some moments it is exactly the same – you give us the chance to play one pass and it is very difficult to stop the next one.
“You suffer in a game like this, you lose a challenge, you look a little silly, but then don’t be bothered – go!
“The next situation, the next chance is there so you have to defend brilliantly, organise and with passion. That is what you need, and then when you have the ball you need to be really brave, you need the skills and the skills of my boys are not too bad.”
With a hefty injury list, five Academy youngsters were drafted in for training at Melwood on Tuesday evening.
Emre Can’s presence will be missed in midfield and there will be few options on the bench. However, Klopp remains defiant ahead of the biggest night of his Anfield reign.
“Somebody asked me after Crystal Palace about how well we did with rotation and now we stand here with two centre-halves left,” he added.
“It’s no problem for the starting line-up providing nothing else happens but of course there are not a lot of options for an intense time.
“We are ready 100%. I knew from the very first minute after we qualified that it would not be easy, I have no problem with that.
This article was written by James Pearce for the Liverpool Echo
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