Jurgen Klopp suggests Liverpool "need Anfield" amid "brutal" fixture congestion

Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Liverpool will "need Anfield" amid the "brutal" winter schedule as the Reds prepare for four home games in their next five matches. 

The Reds find themselves top of the table following their narrow victory at Crystal Palace last weekend, with Klopp's side welcoming arch rivals Manchester United to Merseyside this Sunday.

It kicks off a crucial run of fixtures for the Reds, who then face West Ham United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final and Arsenal in the Premier League before Christmas. Liverpool then travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Boxing Day before a clash with Newcastle United on New Year's Day.

However, the good news for the Reds is that four of their next five games come at Anfield - the Reds have won every home game this season - with only the clash against Burnley taking place on the road.

Speaking before the Man Utd clash in his pre-match press conference, Klopp admitted that playing at Anfield could be hugely beneficial for the Reds.

"If we don’t have to travel it's better and if we have Anfield at our backs it is better as well, definitely," said the boss (via This Is Anfield). "But we will need Anfield, we will need Anfield, definitely. How I said, it’s really tough, and they’re all big games.

"[Manchester] United and Arsenal are big games, West Ham is a quarter-final and a big game, and Boxing Day [against Burnley] is a big game. It’s better than if these four games were away games, but it’s still a big task."

When quizzed about the difficulties Liverpool face amid the hectic winter fixture list, Klopp admitted that the current schedule will be "brutal" for his side.

Asked if this period of the season was crucial, Klopp replied: "Exactly like that. The problem again is it is [playing] Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday. So tough.

"And then it is the 26th and we have a few days between Burnley and Newcastle on 1 January – but it is brutal.

"We have to get through this, obviously. We already have now our injuries and we will see who is available for all the games, but we need pretty much all of them to get through somehow.

"For all the teams it is tough, and so you’re right. Is it crucial? Probably yes, it is for all of us."

Klopp will have the added bonus of playing in front of a larger 57,000-person crowd at Anfield over the festive period, the recently renovated Anfield Road stand partially opening for Liverpool's clash with Man Utd

Hopefully, Anfield can roar Liverpool on over the next few games, keeping them top of the table at Christmas and sending them to the Carabao Cup semi-final.