Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has huge respect for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are the rage right now, and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was full of praise in the build-up to Sunday’s Premier League bout. 

The Arteta project is booming almost three years into the Spaniard’s tenure. Following a productive summer transfer window, Arsenal currently sit at the top of the Premier League table through eight games in the 2022/23 season.

On the contrary, the 2019/20 champions have struggled to find anything close to their most destructive form in the wake of Sadio Mane’s departure to Bayern Munich. Liverpool head into Sunday’s game having won just two of their seven league encounters.

However, the Reds’ 2-0 triumph over Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday will give Klopp hope that his side can quickly find another gear. The Liverpool boss oversaw a rare systematic switch that facilitated a much-improved performance.

Jurgen Klopp has huge respect for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal

Sunday’s visitors will have to produce a stellar performance if they’re to walk away from the Emirates with three points. The Reds have often looked disjointed, disconnected, and dysfunctional this season, and Klopp is well aware of how difficult their upcoming assignment will be.

While the German manager had a squirmish with Arteta at Anfield last season, Klopp has a lot of respect for the Spaniard’s side and he was full of praise in the build-up to Sunday’s game.

“Young team, very exciting. They are in the position they are, well deserved,” Klopp said.

Gabriel Martinelli has particularly caught the German’s eye. Back in 2019, Klopp called the Brazilian “the talent of the century” and he’s still a big fan of the Arsenal winger: “Martinelli I was very early excited about him, he’s become exactly the player I thought he would be.”

The Liverpool boss also singled out Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Martin Odegaard in Friday’s pre-match presser, with his respect for Arteta’s Gunners evident.

Arsenal have struggled mightily against the Reds since Klopp took over as boss in 2015. They’ve won just one of 13 Premier League encounters with Liverpool often looking a class above. Sunday will be a big indicator of just how far the Gunners have come under Arteta, with many confident of a home victory.