Liverpool eye ‘special’ City clash – Toure excited to rejoin title challenge

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LIVERPOOL, Dec 28, (Agencies): Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to pitting his wits against Pep Guardiola again after seeing the Reds fight back to beat Stoke City 4-1 in the Premier League on Tuesday.

The Reds moved back above Manchester City into second place in the table, and to within six points of leaders Chelsea, after claiming their third consecutive win and maintaining their unbeaten record at Anfield this season.

The win, secured thanks to goals by Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and a Giannelli Imbula own goal, set Liverpool up nicely for their New Year’s Eve home clash with City, whose manager was in the Anfield crowd doing a spot of scouting.

“I’m not sure whether he watched a lot of games in the last few weeks in other stadiums. That is the first sign it is a special game and we are already looking forward to it,” Klopp said.

The German — a direct rival of Guardiola’s when the pair were in charge of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively — admitted that it can be difficult to go to see opposition teams in action these days because the Premier League’s superstar managers risk spending more time signing autographs than actually watching games.

“I respect them a lot also but I have not been at their stadium this season. Maybe he just wants to watch good football,” he joked.

“It’s a difficult game for both teams but exciting and the best thing is it’s at Anfield. They are an outstanding side and we are not too bad.”

Liverpool have won eight and drawn two of 10 games at Anfield this season and have not been beaten in front of their own fans in 23 games going back to January.

City can therefore expect to face a daunting task but Stoke — the last visiting team to win at Anfield — looked like they could spring a surprise after Jonathan Walters put them in front in the 12th minute.

Lallana equalised and Firmino’s fine strike just before half-time made it 2-1 before Liverpool ran away with the game in the second period.

The Brazilian’s goal, his sixth of the season, came three days after he was arrested and charged for drink driving in the centre of Liverpool, and Klopp said there had been no prospect of the player being dropped. “No because he was the best man in training so there was no chance to leave him out. No chance. He was outstanding,” he said.

There were important contributions from Sadio Mane, who forced Imbula into turning the ball into his own net, and Sturridge, who came off the bench and seconds later had his first goal of the season.

Meanwhile, Yaya Toure has said the excitement of being part of Manchester City’s assault on the Premier League title has made him feel like a child again.

Toure has been in fine form since returning to Pep Guardiola’s side after a row between the manager and his agent and scored three goals in seven Premier League appearances, including the opener in Monday’s 3-0 win at Hull City.

“I look like a kid, just enjoying playing football and helping my team mates and the fans,” the midfielder told British media.

“It’s very important to me. I’m used to winning Premier Leagues, and I think it’s second two times, and I want to win another.

“I know it’s going to be tough but we have to keep going because Chelsea are very good this year.”

City are third in the league, seven points behind leaders Chelsea after 18 games, and travel to take on second-placed Liverpool on Saturday.

Four-times African player of the Year Toure said he was looking forward to a frenzied atmosphere at Anfield.

“For me it’s almost a ‘final’ of the Premier League because I think it’s going to be a similar kind of football,” the 33-year-old Ivorian added.

“I think for the fans it’s going to be fantastic.”

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