Though Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola decided not to comment on the Manchester City guilty verdict and its impact on his current club, citing his relative newness on Merseyside, he is excited by the fixture.
“You are here to play these games. It will be a challenge, they are very good but so are we. Duels, one-v-ones with good players, so let’s see where we are and what help we can provide them with the subs.”
Liverpool come into this match as a not-quite-finished object, so the challenge of Manchester
City’s quality will also be a marker as to where Liverpool are in their own progress — and the necessary effort on the pitch outweighs any outside noise for his squad, Iraola claims:
“I think the challenge of the game you want is so high, that I don’t think the players think too much outside of this, they know they need to be at this high level. They are focused on those things. They will have their own opinions but they are focused.”
The Liverpool boss is nonetheless looking forward to the atmosphere, even if he stops short of naming what will make this particular fixture a bit spicier than some others:
“I think always when you play, you live this kind of game, the atmopshere will be big, special. I think we want to give the supporters reasons to be with us, when they see the team they want on the pitch we can create and even better atmosphere.”
In the end, Iraola did his best to minimize the importance of the fixture for the Liverpool season overall, arguing that it’s too early:
“It’s an exciting game, at home at Anfield against league leaders. Won all their games. They will go for it, so will we, we have to be ready and help our supporters. I hope we are at the level.
“I think it is still very early whatever happens on Sunday. Just five games but it is true we like to face teams like City and show our level, definitely. It’s massive for everyone involved, it’s an exciting moment.”
Iraola presumably knows the supporters — especially in the ground — need no further encouragement.
