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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has backed his side to rise to the challenge and defeat Premier League champions Arsenal when both teams meet at Anfield on Sunday.
The Spaniard said Liverpool believed in their ability to overcome the Gunners, despite acknowledging the quality and organisation of Mikel Arteta’s side.
“We know Arsenal and how good they are. They have very good players, working a lot in synchronicity, and we have to be ready for that challenge,” Iraola said on Friday.
“It’s going to be a demanding game, but we also trust our players, trust ourselves and the good atmosphere we will for sure have on Sunday. I hope we will be at a level to win this game.”
Liverpool head into the encounter on a five-match winning run in all competitions, with their recent performances raising hopes among supporters that they could challenge for the league title.
A victory over Arsenal would move Liverpool to within three points of the reigning champions, who are level on points with league leaders Manchester City.
However, Iraola warned against reading too much into the current standings, insisting that his priority was improving the team’s performances rather than focusing on the title race.
“It is still October. We have to take one game at a time,” he said.
“I always say the reference is more or less when we’ve played against each other once, so halfway through the season. That’s when you can start to look at the standings.
“Right now, we are in a position where we need to improve and keep getting better.”
The Liverpool boss welcomed the growing confidence among supporters but insisted that his players must continue working hard to meet their expectations.
He also played down the significance of the five consecutive victories, pointing out that only two had come in the Premier League.
“It is five wins in a row, but just two are in the league, so if we are talking about the league, we still need more wins to recover points,” Iraola said.
“But definitely, we know what we want in terms of having to improve a lot of things. If you can go through this process while getting results, it is always nice.”
Arsenal, meanwhile, will travel to Anfield after moving level with Manchester City at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over Everton last weekend.
However, they suffered a setback in midweek, crashing out of the League Cup after losing on penalties to fourth-tier Fleetwood.
