Will Toure have a say in today’s game against his former club…?
Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has backed his team to use the memories of their frustrating defeat at the hands of Manchester United two weeks ago to inspire them to victory against Arsenal this lunchtime.
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The Ivorian will be aiming for a recall to Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI today, as he battles Dejan Lovren for the third central defender spot alongside Mamadou Sakho and Emre Can, replacing the suspended Martin Skrtel.
Toure spoke openly about our prospects in the build-up to the game, blaming a lack of trademark intensity, energy and pressing as the reason for a second-successive defeat against Louis van Gaal’s side.
However, he also expressed his unwavering belief that the Reds can record back-to-back top four finishes, with a Champions League charge beginning today, away to his former club.
He told our official website: “It’s really important to keep the focus and try to do our best until the end of the season. You always learn from a defeat.
“It was a tough game against Manchester United and we didn’t start well. United made us work really hard and it was a really difficult day, but we will learn from it and just focus on the rest of the games we have coming up.
“I wouldn’t say [Arsenal] is a must-win game because we have some crucial games coming up, but it’s going to be a really important game. If we win it, it would be massive for our belief in finishing in the top four, definitely.
“This is a really important week for us. We are just relaxed and want to give 100 per cent for each game and take it game by game. That’s all we need to do and then we can see what we can do.”
Toure spent seven years in North London, making over 300 appearances and winning five major honours prior to a move to Manchester City. He joined us in the summer of 2013, playing 30 times in all competitions thus far.