NewsJürgen Klopp on Liverpool v Arsenal: 'The recipe for a good football game'

The Reds welcome the Gunners to Anfield for a 5.30pm GMT kick-off, with both sides knowing a win would leave them top of the table at Christmas.

It is a fixture that has traditionally guaranteed goals, with at least four scored in each of the last 10 league meetings in L4, and though it is a clash of the teams with the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League, Klopp is expecting an open, entertaining contest.

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Asked to reflect on past games versus today's opponents, Klopp told reporters: "Spectacular! Arsenal is a football-playing side, they always were with Arsene Wenger and only recently I looked, and in my eight-and-a-half years here Arsenal have had only three managers, and only two since Arsene in Unai [Emery] and now Mikel [Arteta].

"He is doing an incredible job, but they were always a footballing side, so that made the results when we had them.

"But besides that, I remember that they were always tough games. My highlights when I will look back in the future will maybe be away wins at Arsenal. Not because it's Arsenal but because of the performance.

"So the 4-3 [in August 2016] with Sadio Mane and Phil Coutinho, and the Carabao Cup semi-final [in January 2022] with Diogo Jota, these kinds of things.

"They are just really good games and I expect that [on Saturday], a really good football game.

"They are in a good moment and we're not in a bad moment, and that is usually the recipe for a good football game. I am pretty sure I have played them more than most other teams because we draw them a lot in cups. It is a top club and a good opponent."

Arsenal's last visit to Anfield, back in April, ended 2-2, with Liverpool producing a stirring comeback having trailed 2-0 in the first half. Including that match, the Reds have lost only one of their last 27 in the league since.

"Yes, that game was a nice awakening moment in general," Klopp said. "Coming back in that game, and it was a change in that season thankfully.

"It made the last bit of the season more enjoyable than the first bit!"

And on the importance of this upcoming showdown, Klopp continued: "We are not even halfway through the season. Being top of the table is pretty much the best thing to be, but it's only important if you're there at the end of the season.

"Besides that, it's not really important, it's about winning football games. That's what is really important and that's how to get there.

"Whoever wants to win this league has to be super-consistent throughout the season, it was always the case. Who will be most consistent with the quality up there has a good chance to do it.

"You have to perform, because performance is the mother of the result and if we perform at the top level we are difficult to play and if we do that, we have a chance."