Jürgen Klopp: Let's attack this contest with all we have
Jürgen Klopp will instruct his players to 'focus on being us' as Liverpool prepare for the latest instalment of their rivalry with Manchester City.
The champions go into today’s clash with the Premier League leaders in uncharacteristically indifferent home form - and the boss wants his team to concentrate solely on their own game as they seek to return to winning ways at Anfield.
“I know it’s often portrayed that City and ourselves have driven each other’s improvements over the past few seasons,” Klopp writes in his notes for the official matchday programme.
“I get that - I understand the sentiment behind it, the idea that having a direct opponent who is so intense means the other cannot afford to relax for the most fleeting of moments.
“There have been moments where it’s felt like a scene from a Rocky film where Balboa and Apollo Creed are just trading punches but neither will go to the canvas.
“My only issue with this notion is that for us, with our situation, to stand any chance at all of achieving the things we dream of, we have to be entirely focused on ourselves. This is more important than ever right now.
“Respect rivals, of course. Enjoy the drama and focus of a head-to-head battle when it comes. But we must not lose sight of the fact that our progress comes from making sure we squeeze the maximum out of ourselves each and every day and then being at peace with what that brings us.
“We must view every opponent as standing in our way - having the points that we want - not just one.
“There will no doubt have been big focus on the contrasting forms going into this game. City are flying. We have had mixed fortunes. It is what it is and it won’t matter when the whistle goes and the ball starts to roll.
“The key message for us today is to simply attack the contest with all we have. The only team to worry about and concentrate upon is ourselves. Focus on being us. That’s always been enough for me and always will be with these incredible men.”
