Jurgen Klopp has seen sufficient Rangers vs Celtic video games to know the environment at Ibrox on Wednesday evening might be electrical and didn’t want Andy Robertson to warn him.
The Scotland captain is again within the Liverpool squad for the Champions League blockbuster at Ibrox. The Reds received 2-0 at Anfield final midweek earlier than taking place 302 to Arsenal on the weekend. They're now in Glasgow and will finish the Gentle Blues’ slim hopes of creating it out of Group A with victory in Govan.
Not that Klopp thinks it’s going to be a simple evening’s work for his facet. He is aware of the prospect of a full Ibrox is a vastly completely different one for his staff than it was taking part in on residence soil seven days in the past. He’s solely watched the Previous Agency fixture on TV, however is aware of the fame of Rangers followers and that they'll convey the noise on the flick of a change, and can remind his gamers to be prepared for that earlier than kick-off. “He doesn’t should,” Klopp replied when requested if Robertson had been in his ear. “ I don’t know what number of Previous Agency video games I’ve seen - okay solely on tv - however when each fan teams have been allowed, I really like this recreation atmosphere-wise.
“Many of the stadiums that I come to for the primary time, I’ve been a supporter and watched the sport. Andy Robertson performed right here with Dundee United and it was an identical environment as properly. Excellent.
“You turn a light-weight on and Ibrox is flying Is that the case? That’s particular. Even after they play unhealthy? Okay! However no, I didn’t communicate to him about it.”
Liverpool ’s gamers have been there and received the t-shirt on this competitors, However Klopp insists you don’t have to have a wealth of expertise in continental competitors to know that this recreation is a distinct proposition.
He mentioned: “Not due to European expertise, however as a result of we're human beings. The Champions League is all the time this center tie whenever you play residence and away towards the identical opponent.
“We’ve had this example fairly steadily once we play the house recreation then the away recreation, which is after all completely different. Do I've to? I don’t know. Will I? Sure.
Rangers have been criticised for not likely laying a glove on their huge identify opponents on Merseyside. Klopp did not fairly see their method as adverse, however thought his facet have been simply too good to ensure that Gio van Bronckhorst’s males to make a lot of an impression.
“I actually thought Rangers went for it,” he admitted. “They actually tried however we have been actually good. We shouldn’t neglect that and they're going to go tomorrow.
“It’s fully completely different with the environment. How usually did we point out the ability of Anfield? I’m fairly positive you will have comparable issues to speak about with huge European nights right here and even huge league video games. Soccer is like this. We all know it will likely be a difficult recreation however we thought we’d come right here anyway!"
Leon King made his Champions League debut at Anfield and has been attracting curiosity from the likes of Manchester United after impressing within the Rangers first staff. And Klopp was impressed with how the teenager dealt with himself on the largest stage.
“If there’s loads of curiosity then it’s positively a testomony to how properly he’s don,” he mentioned. “Once we play an opponent, I’m not an excessive amount of about score them - I do this once I watch the sport again.
“We scored two targets from set items, which suggests left and proper of them, Rangers had a clear sheet. He performed within the final line in order that’s to his credit score as properly.
“However an 18-year-old boy at Anfield in his first Champions League recreation,. I might say that it’s already constructive that he doesn’t fall over the ball due to the nerves! He clearly didn’t do this - not even shut, he performed a very good recreation so that claims quite a bit about him.”
Robertson is obtainable for the Reds however is unlikely to begin. Nonetheless, they are going to be with out the under-fire Trent Alexander Arnold and Luis Diaz after the duo picked up accidents in London on Sunday.
"I hoped we might be a little bit bit fortunate with Trent as a result of the ankle didn’t look good, to be trustworthy,” mentioned Klpp. “Lucho [Diaz] might be six to eight weeks, He appears to be like like a fast healer however now we have to watch out with that. I might have been worse as properly with the way in which he moved after the sport.
“It’s not nice however that’s the state of affairs however now we have to cope with it. And we are going to.
“They solely skilled a few days and we can't put them in simply because the others are out. Robbo is within the squad for tomorrow. Curtis [Jone], not, Ox [Oxlade-Chamberlain] not, Naby [Keita] not. That’s it. It’s necessary now we have boys coming again however it’s not ‘they practice twice with the staff, right here we go.’ It’s not like this.”
READ NEXT