Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield in the first Premier League outing for Enzo Maresca's side since the club's guilty verdict
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola sent a clear message to the Premier League and Man City ahead of their clash this weekend.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola sent a clear message to the Premier League and Man City ahead of their clash this weekend.(Image: PA Wire)
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Andoni Iraola has proven Jamie Carragher wrong with his stance on Manchester City's guilty verdict ahead of the clash between Liverpool and Enzo Maresca's side on Sunday. The former Reds defender felt that Iraola would stay away from talking about the charges and focus on the football.
However, the 44-year-old Liverpool boss sent a clear message to both City and the Premier League. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Iraola said: "I think it should be [concluded quickly].
"There should be a moment when something comes from this but now is not that moment. Nobody knows what is going to happen and I think this uncertainty is no good for anyone. I don't know what's going to happen. No-one knows what's going to happen.
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"I think we have to trust the people who are in charge of those things. They have spent a lot of time (looking at the issue), no? So they are ones that the football world has put their trust in and they decide to make their decisions.
"The best thing for us is that we are focusing on the football and on the game, Liverpool vs Man City. But we cannot control everything that happens and that is why there are mechanisms to control these kinds of things.
"We understand and I understand everything that goes above football. Every fan will have their own opinion and attitude towards that but it's not something that I can control. I need to do my job, to give the best game we can give on the sporting side, so everyone of our supporters is happy on Sunday.
"I think the challenge of the game for us is big. Everyone knows if we don't give 100 percent then it is going to be a really difficult game for us. So all the players are very focused and everyone is willing to take on all the information to get us ready and win their duels, give their best performances because it is the only way we can win on Sunday."
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Leicester City (L), shakes hands with Andoni Iraola, Manager of AFC Bournemouth (R), prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Leicester City
Enzo Maresca takes on Andoni Iraola when Manchester City travels to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images))
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Iraola was quizzed on whether he'd use the guilty charges in his pre-match team talk, but revealed he'd stick to using the atmosphere at Anfield, something Carragher believes Liverpool need to use for this clash.
Speaking on the Overlap Fan Debate, Carragher said: "I've been thinking about this game a lot because we've had such a long break. It almost feels like it's an important game for Liverpool because I feel like everyone's almost expecting this atmosphere at Anfield.
"Now this atmosphere will be there, but this team and this manager, because it's new, have probably not used the Anfield crowd yet to sort of propel it to a performance and win a big game - maybe Atletico Madrid had features of that without it being a full-on rocking night.
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"I'm really interested to see how Liverpool go about it and the manager understanding how he uses this crowd.
"I'm really interested to see what the manager says before the game, actually, because I don't think it's in his nature to ramp things up. He just doesn't come across as that - 'I just want to speak about football', and I can see him batting the City charges away.
"And I'm thinking, 'I wouldn't mind him just throwing a little hand grenade in there and just revving the supporters up and using the atmosphere to gain the three points, which is the most important thing."