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Klopp says Arteta is "an exceptional football manager"

== RESENDING WITH FULL SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT ==

SHOWS: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP WALKS ON TO TRAINING PITCH

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JUERGEN KLOPP SAYING:

"Mikel Arteta I think showed in a pretty short period of time that he seems to be an exceptional football manager obviously, because the team he sets up now, the structure of the team, is absolutely exceptional. You can see the balance between defence and offence is really good, you can see a lot of things which obviously are pretty helpful in football. Good organisation, but freedom for the players as well, uses the players in the right position. So I have to say since he's there he did a really impressive job to be honest."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

3. SADIO MANE AND MOHAMED SALAH / JAMES MILNER, ROBERTSON AND ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN TRAINING

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JUERGEN KLOPP SAYING:

"Oh it's the defensive structure, 100%, so they defend properly I have to say, all the players are involved in their defending.

"They defend probably in a 5-4-1 which is, when you have quality players in the team, is a pretty, is for the other team a pretty tricky situation. Then with the speed they have for the counter-attack that can cause you some trouble and that's the situation."

MUNICH, GERMANY (FILE - APRIL 22, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

5. VARIOUS OF THIAGO ALCANTARA, DRIBBLING BALL AND SHOOTING AGAINST A TRAMPOLINE NET DURING TRAINING

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JUERGEN KLOPP RESPONDING WHEN ASKED IF THIAGO WILL START AGAINST ARSENAL, SAYING:

"We will see. We have a few days to train, some boys have to recover from last night so we will see how we set up against Arsenal. I've an idea but why should I make the decision today when we have time until Monday? But he's in contention for sure, let's see."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. KLOPP AT TRAINING SESSION

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JUERGEN KLOPP SAYING:

"I don't know if we can be better than last year, I don't know if we were last year better than the year before just because we had two points more we became champions. We always try to do the right thing in the right moment and yes we are an offensive orientated team but without a very good defensive structure you have absolutely no chance."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

9. ROBERTO FIRMINO TRAINING

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JUERGEN KLOPP, RESPONDING TO A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS SHOULD HELP THOSE LOWER DOWN THE DIVISIONS, SAYING:

"It's difficult, I don't think there's a general answer. Yes I think people in a better position should help other people but the position in this moment is for all clubs not really easy we all know.

"I don't know really how the government finds time honestly to think about that, I think they have enough to do with other things.

"I get it, I get it 100%, so yes football should try to help themselves, ourselves, however you would say it, I agree with that 100%."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

11. SALAH TRAINING

STORY: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp heaped praise on his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta on Friday (September 25) ahead of the meeting of the two clubs in the Premier League on Monday.

Klopp said Arsenal had improved dramatically under Spaniard Arteta and were set up to defend in numbers and hit opponents on the break.

"Mikel Arteta I think showed in a pretty short period of time that he seems to be an exceptional football manager," the German said. "The structure of the team, is absolutely exceptional. You can see the balance between defence and offence is really good.

"They defend probably in a 5-4-1 which is, when you have quality players in the team, is for the other team a pretty tricky situation. Then with the speed they have for the counter-attack that can cause you some trouble."

Liverpool midfield signing Thiago Alcantara is in contention to make his first start for his new club Klopp added.

Thiago joined Liverpool from Bundesliga and Champions League winners Bayern Munich earlier this month and looked every bit the class act in a 45-minute cameo during Sunday's win over Chelsea following an injury to skipper Jordan Henderson.

The Spaniard's first involvement after coming off the bench was to concede a penalty that Alisson saved, but he soon slotted in seamlessly, pulling the strings in midfield and starting the move that led to Liverpool's second goal in the 2-0 win.

"We will see," Klopp told reporters on Friday when asked if he would start the 29-year-old. "I've an idea but why should I make the decision today when we have time until Monday. But he's in contention for sure, let's see."

Defender Joe Gomez is expected to resume training before the game, but with fellow centre back Joel Matip still out Klopp could continue to pair midfielder Fabinho with Virgil van Dijk, after the Brazilian's impressive showing against Chelsea.

Arsenal beat Liverpool on penalties in this season's Community Shield and though they have not won a league game at Anfield since 2012, both teams are looking to preserve their perfect starts to the season.

The match at Anfield will come too soon for Henderson, who left the pitch against Chelsea with a minor muscle injury.

(Production: Andy Ragg)