Dominik Szoboszlai on Arsenal vs Liverpool clash: ‘I don’t think we are playing against the champions. They’re playing against the champions’

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, ahead of the clash against Arsenal on Thursday, said that the Gunners are not champions yet, but they are playing against the champions. Liverpool, in the inaugural season of Arne Slot as the manager, won the Premier League title. However, this season Slot acknowledged that his side is not in the title race as in the last eight games altough they are unbeaten have won only four and drawn four. Arsenal, on the other hand, is 14 points ahead of Liverpool and five points ahead of Manchester City, who are in the second spot.

“The Premier League is not easy,” he said (as per Sky Sports). “You don’t win it by January, so I don’t think we are playing against the champions. They’re playing against the champions,” Szoboszlai said ahead of the game.

“And that’s probably they know as well, we know as well. Of course they are one of the favourites for this year, unbelievable team, really good players. But we shouldn’t also forget about Man City, about Villa, who is doing very good. No, we don’t play against the champions, they play against the champions,” he added.

Liverpool carries extra motivation into the Emirates Stadium clash after handing Arsenal their first defeat of the campaign with a 1-0 victory at Anfield back in August.

“We’re very excited. It’s a massive game against the champions… We have a point to prove, we’re going to have our crowd creating an amazing atmosphere,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

“We are top of the table, we play at home against a really good opponent. We want to maintain our position. To do that, we’re going to have to be excellent throughout the game. That’s the point we have to prove.”

Arteta is banking on Arsenal’s faithful to provide the crucial edge against Liverpool.

“They’ve been unbelievable again this season. It makes such a difference. We become a different team. The level of energy, commitment, confidence and desire is transmitted by them. We need them tomorrow,” Arteta said.

“There is nothing like it. You become a different player. Your emotional status is better, your level is better, your confidence is better. They encourage you to perform actions with aggression, with a lot of determination, and it lifts the whole team.”