Jurgen Klopp has surprisingly hit out at the Anfield atmosphere and urged Liverpool fans to up their game considerably for Saturday's crunch Premier League title showdown with Arsenal.
The rampant Reds sailed into the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a one-sided 5-1 thrashing of woeful West Ham on Wednesday night, teeing up a two-legged last-four clash with Fulham in the New Year and making up for the frustration experienced on Sunday when they were held to a drab goalless draw by fierce rivals Manchester United.
That latter affair saw Liverpool draw their highest home crowd since 1963 as the top part of the new Anfield Road Stand was opened for the first time, but the atmosphere was notably muted.
Liverpool's formidable home form has been critical to their swift re-emergence as title contenders this season after missing out on the top four altogether last term, though Klopp was left distinctly unimpressed with the efforts of the Anfield crowd against West Ham as he pleaded with fans to be on top form for the huge meeting with top-flight leaders Arsenal this weekend - or else give their tickets away.
In his post-match press conference, a frustrated Klopp said: "I have to say, I thought in the first half when the boys played really exceptional, I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me.
"I asked people: ‘What do you want?’ We changed a lot of things, we dominated West Ham like crazy, we missed chances.
"If I was in the stands, I would be on my toes, 1000 per cent. I don’t know if the Man United game was that bad that we have to say: ‘Oh, sorry that we didn’t smash them’. We need Anfield on Saturday.
"[Arsenal] didn’t play this week, they prepared for this game and anyone who knows a little bit about them knows they will be prepared.
"We need Anfield on their toes, from the first second. Without me having an argument with the opposition coach or whatever, we need Anfield from the first second.
"If you really want - if it’s too much football in December or whatever, I don’t know, sorry but we have to play it as well - but if you’re not in the right shape, give your ticket to somebody else.”
