Jurgen Klopp has called on the Liverpool fans to make Anfield a ‘horrible place to come’ for opposing sides ahead of ‘the most intense period’ of the season.
Liverpool take on LASK in the Europa League on Thursday night, ahead of a gruelling December schedule that will see the Reds face eight games in all competitions before the turn of the new year.
Klopp’s side can confirm their place in the knockout rounds with a win against LASK at Anfield, before hosting Fulham in the Premier League at the weekend.
The German has called on the home crowd to create an intimidating atmosphere and lift his players ahead of a tough run of games.
“We are in the beginning of the most intense period of the whole season. We play now Thursday-Sunday, it’s super tough. So I have to make decisions,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“It’s not about qualifying, it’s about winning a football game against a really good opponent. We won there – yes – but we had our struggles in the game.
“They have played a really good season. They look well set up. We respect that. But what we have to have tomorrow is an atmosphere. We have to make sure that this is a European night and that is what I expect us to do – a proper European night at Anfield, really going for it.
“I will line up a team with fresh legs who want to go for it, enjoy the game and will really fight for a result.
“If Anfield wants to do that as well, that would be massively helpful.
“We have to show that Anfield is a wonderful place to come, but also a horrible place to come in the same moment.”
Alisson and Diogo Jota have been added to Liverpool’s list of injury absentees, joining Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Andy Robertson on the sidelines.
Klopp said he must rotate his options ahead of a busy period of games, in a bid to share the ‘intensity’ of the season around his squad.
“In this busy time we need all the boys available. We have already a lot not available. Thiago and Robbo [Andrew Robertson] are out and now Diogo [Jota] and Ali [Alisson]. That’s massive.
“It would be great if nothing else would happen, but that is unlikely, so we have to be sure we share the intensity between the group.”
