Everyone who enters Anfield has to be on their toes, says Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp
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Jurgen Klopp will be buoyed by the fact that Liverpool have scored at least twice in each of their last five victories on home soil.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called for a “proper performance” against a tight-knit Luton Town side as he prepares for his team’s English Premier League home clash on Feb 21.
The leaders, who are hoping to win the title in Klopp’s last season in charge, are aiming to extend their unbeaten top-flight home run to 25 matches.
After brushing aside Brentford 4-1 over the weekend, Liverpool return home on the back of a two-match winning run and a trip to Anfield should be daunting for any opponent.
Luton head into the clash after a 2-1 home loss to Manchester United
“Set pieces are a strength (of Luton) but I have to say the way they play, they play incredible and even in games they lost, they were in it,” he said.
“We experienced a tough game there (1-1 draw) and now, in possession, they (have) found a structure where everyone is comfortable.
“Ross Barkley is a nice story where he is back to his best, or better. A deeper role, disciplined and extremely strong.
“They are a really together (squad). The situation when their captain (Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest) brought them closer...
“In general, they deserve respect. We have to show that with a proper Liverpool performance.
“Everyone who enters the gate to Anfield has to be on their toes.”
Regardless of what happens in the clash between third-placed Manchester City and Brentford on Feb 20 – that match kicked off after press time – Liverpool will remain top of the table.
The Reds have not lost at home in the league since a defeat by Leeds United in October 2022.
They will be full of confidence in front of their fans, as they seek another morale-boosting win ahead of the League Cup final against Chelsea on Feb 25.
Klopp will also be buoyed by the fact that his men have scored at least twice in each of their last five victories at home, but they are also hoping to clinch their first Anfield clean sheet in 2024.
Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota suffered injuries in the win over Brentford.
With the latter’s knee issue appearing to be a serious concern, Mohamed Salah should make his first start since New Year’s Day after returning from injury.
Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip, Ben Doak, Thiago Alcantara, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold also remain on the sidelines, while Caoimhin Kelleher could deputise for injured goalkeeper Alisson Becker again.
“Not great, would like to say (we have) no issues but we have some,” Klopp added. “That is the situation. But as long as we have 11 players, we will go for it and that is the idea.
“We have a situation now where it’d be better when we had no injuries, but at the moment, you just deal with it and we have no excuse.
“We will go for it. There are 5,000 ways to win a game, we just have to find one.”
In the Luton camp, top scorer Elijah Adebayo missed the United game due to a hamstring injury and is unlikely to recover in time.
He joins Mads Andersen, Jacob Brown and Marvelous Nakamba in the treatment room, while Lockyer has conceded that he is not sure if he will play football again following his distressing cardiac collapse.
Relegation-threatened Luton are winless in three consecutive fixtures, with Rob Edwards’ men being given a harsh reality check after three straight victories in all competitions in January.
But the visitors will be motivated by a three-game unbeaten run in Premier League away matches, and will hope that they can at least repeat their gritty draw with Liverpool earlier in the season.
