Owen Hargreaves believes it is a “must-win” game for Liverpool when they host Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Reds have started the season very poorly and sit tenth in the Premier League.
They have only won two of their opening nine league fixtures and were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal last weekend.
It doesn’t get much easier for Jurgen Klopp and his players, with the small task of champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
The Citizens are unbeaten in all competitions this season and are currently second behind pacesetters Arsenal in the Premier League.
Summer signing Erling Haaland has been in relentless form, taking the p*ss out of defenders on a weekly basis.
Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold are expected to miss the game, which is a huge miss for Klopp, even with the latter struggling for form.
Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate are likely to come in for the injured duo, with the French defender only just returning from injury.
With the title all but gone already for Liverpool, Hargreaves has called it a “must-win” game for the Reds in order to “save their season and top four”.
Defeat on Sunday on top of an Arsenal win at Leeds United would leave Klopp’s side 17 points behind the Gunners after ten matches.
“Definitely [Haaland will start], Phil [Foden] will as well, he’s been amazing,” Hargreaves told BT Sport.
“Thirteen points separate the two sides, for Liverpool, it’s must-win, not just to save their season and top four.
“It’s probably the biggest gap we’ve seen between the two, the two best clubs in Europe we’ve seen in recent seasons.
“A huge game for Liverpool and to change their season but it’s hard to look past City when they’re firing, you can’t look past them.”
Liverpool’s loss at the Emirates last Sunday was decided by a penalty in the last 15 minutes.
Klopp said it was “soft” and his feelings were certainly echoed by his players on the pitch at the time.
Hargreaves says Jordan Henderson – who is the subject of an FA investigation following an altercation with Arsenal defender Gabriel – got uncharacteristically “irate” following Michael Oliver’s decision to give a spot-kick against Thiago.
“Thiago is a proper football player, he knows, he is saying ‘come on, that is so soft’,” Hargreaves said.
“Jordan Henderson, he was so irate and he never gets like that. Even he realised their season was slipping away. A moment like that could change their season from one direction to the other.
“I think they all had a feeling it was soft. I think we all had a feeling it was soft. I know if you are Arsenal and you need that moment to continue their great season.”
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