As Jurgen Klopp scanned the fixture list looking for a potential chance to build their confidence after their defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, he didn’t find it in their next Premier League outing. Liverpool only have champions and league leaders Manchester City who are a whopping 14 points ahead of them now.
The German admitted himself that it’s hardly the ideal game for his Reds side who are languishing in 10th spot in England’s top flight. In fact, they even sit two places below Bournemouth – a team they destroyed 9-0 at Anfield earlier this season.
The fact Klopp mentioned Rangers and Manchester City when looking ahead to his side’s next games following the 3-2 Gunners loss but only referred to City as not being the ideal match for his team tells you that he doesn’t think the same of Wednesday’s visit to Ibrox. And why would he? Rangers and City are hardly on the same level with billions of pounds separating them.
There is also the fact Liverpool enjoyed a one-sided win when they met in the first part of their Champions League Group A Battle of Britain. On Sunday Klopp said: “We have to continue now and of course in a situation like ours playing Arsenal then Rangers and Manchester City – are they the perfect opponent for finding confidence back now? I don't think so but we will go out there and fight. That is what we have to do and that is what we will do.”
The fact Pep Guardiola’s big hitters are next up in the league for Liverpool could work in Rangers’ favour as they desperately try to register their first point on the board in Europe’s premier competition.
Klopp, with one eye on that City clash, might opt to rest key players and admitted to taking Egyptian King Mo Salah off at the Emirates due to his intense workload. Salah, who scored form the penalty spot against Rangers at Anfield, didn’t look too happy when he came off with 20 minutes to go against Arsenal.
But the Liverpool manager said: “Mo had an unbelievable workload and put in a real shift and that sometimes is intense, so that is why we changed it. We still wanted to win, even though we took a striker off."
Could Salah be spared for the Rangers clash to keep him fresh for City? Giovanni van Bronckhorst has already vowed to change his approach and have a go and with the raucous Ibrox crowd on a European night behind them it should be more of a contest than the first game. Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold both picked up injuries against Arsenal and if key men are rested and with confidence low, Rangers must be ready to pounce.
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