Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is expecting a big test when his side faces Rubin Kazan in the Europa League on Thursday.
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It was Klopp’s first win as Liverpool manager, and Mignolet feels it’s important they take that confidence into tonight’s Europa League clash at Rubin Kazan.
He added: “Every team is hard to play against – all teams have good players, all matches are very intense, so we consider this a very hard game”.
“We did really well, we had our chances and could have had more (goals)”.
Liverpool were previously held to a 1-1 draw by Kazan at Anfield last month. It’s OK. The lads fought for their lives and that was great to see.
Klopp revealed afterwards that playmaker Phlippe Coutinho was rested because he has a slight hamstring strain, but should be fine for the visit of Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The breakthrough did not come until seven minutes into the second half when Firmino popped off another a pass to allow Ibe to advance 15 yards and clip a shot in off Ryzhikov’s far post.
“We got the points we need and now hopefully we can (keep) doing well and in our home games in the Europa League”. “We changed a few things to create more and I’m really satisfied how we did it”, he said.
However, Liverpool should be in confident mood as they warmed up for the game with a stunning 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and Klopp will be hoping to follow that up with his first win in Europe since becoming boss.
“We played without Phil [Coutinho] who had such a brilliant game at Chelsea”.
As Klopp is expected to field his strongest starting eleven, online bookmakers NetBet believe the English side will claim the win as they are priced at 10/11.
Rubin manager Valeriy Chaly was happy with his team’s showing as European football returned to the Kazan Arena.
It’s suggested that numerous loanees will be returning to their parent side Liverpool in the coming weeks, with Klopp wanting to take a look at all the club’s talent before deciding on the best future action for their development.
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A report in The Independent said that Gerrard, who joined Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of last season after 17 years with Liverpool, could possibly play again for the Merseysiders on loan or even following a transfer.
