Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has told any supporter “not in the right shape” for Saturday’s top-of-the-table Premier League encounter with leaders Arsenal to give their ticket to someone else.
Klopp – whose side are a point behind the Gunners – criticised the Anfield atmosphere during Wednesday’s 5-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham.
The Reds galloped to their joint-biggest win of the season to book a two-legged last-four encounter with Fulham.
Yet, despite goals for his side from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones, who scored twice, Klopp felt the atmosphere inside the stadium was flat.
That was even though it was just the second time there were 57,000 present after the opening of the upper tier of the Anfield Road Stand.
After Sunday’s goalless draw with Manchester United, television pundit Gary Neville said: “The atmosphere was the worst I’ve seen at Anfield ever.
“I’ve always been complimentary of Liverpool fans. It’s the biggest crowd they’ve had here in 60 or 70 years but it’s the quietest crowd I’ve seen in this game.”
And Klopp was no more complimentary after the win over West Ham.
“In the first half, when the boys played exceptionally, I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me,” he said.
“I asked people: ‘What do they want?’ We changed a lot of things and we dominated West Ham like crazy and missed chances. If I was in the stands, I would be on my toes, 1,000%.
“I don’t know if the Man United game was that bad that we have to say sorry we didn’t smash them?”
On Saturday, Liverpool entertain an Arsenal side who will not have played for six days since their 2-0 win against Brighton.
The Gunners lead the Premier League, although Aston Villa can go top by beating Sheffield United on Friday.
“We need Anfield on Saturday,” Klopp said.
“Arsenal didn’t play this week. Anyone who knows anything about them knows they will be prepared, so we need Anfield on their toes from the first second, without me having an argument with the opposition coach.
“If it is too much football in December, if you are not in the right shape, give your ticket to somebody else.”