Joël Matip on Liverpool’s Clash with Manchester United: “It’s a Special Game”

It’s certainly been a big week for Joël Matip.

He got the big contract renewal in the bag. Next up is the small matter of playing Manchester United at Old Trafford. He’s well up for it, it sounds.

“The two games against United are kind of the biggest games for Liverpool supporters”, the Cameroon international told the official Liverpool site, “and you feel this in the week before or maybe in the two weeks before.

”We have to be ready to get the opportunity. We are focussed every game but I think for everybody it’s also a special game.

”Both teams want to win and they have a different point of view for the game, but it doesn’t matter how it looks for them.

”We only concentrate on our things and we want to win and that’s the most important point.”

As much as we all love to beat United, there’s no question what this game is really about. Another three points would keep the commanding lead against Manchester City and put Liverpool in an ever stronger position to win the title.

“You always want to be in front but it’s only the beginning of the season and it’s better to be on the top at the end!”, Matip added.

”Only the next game counts and this is how we have to work. This is the only way to have success.

”We are concentrated on us and there are so many good teams. [Manchester] City showed this over the last few years, they are so strong over the whole season. So you never can relax and you always have to be 100 per cent there to get the next win.

”There is no time to relax, you always have to be focussed. There’s no time for a break.”

It’s just one game, is what you tell yourself. Just three points. Doesn’t stop the pit in my stomach, though.