Playing at Anfield is 'like Christmas come early' says Augsburg boss
"Like Christmas come early," is how Augsburg boss Markus Weinzierl has described their Europa League clash with Liverpool on Thursday.
The Germans arrived on Merseyside on Wednesday, training at Anfield ahead of the second leg of the last-32 clash.
The tie is finely poised after a goalless draw in last week's first leg, but Weinzierl says his side plan to enjoy what is widely considered to be the biggest night in the club's history.
He told his pre-match press conference: "For most of us, coming here is a brand new experience, and we want to pull off an upset.
"Tomorrow is like Christmas come early. Everyone is buzzing - nobody needs motivating. We'll do all we can to succeed."
Jurgen Klopp hinted in his own briefing that Liverpool would field a strong side, with the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho expected to start.
And Weinzierl says he is anticipating a fast start from the Reds, who could be forgiven for having one eye on this weekend's League Cup final with Manchester City.
"I expect a full-strength Liverpool, even if they have a final to play on Sunday,” he said.
“It's an all-or-nothing game. I expect Liverpool to be more proactive and try to score an early goal. We know our strength on the counter though and know that if we score one, they will have to score two."
Augsburg sporting director Stefan Reuter, meanwhile, has promised to enjoy a beer if his side manage to pull off an upset. The former German international played at Anfield with Borussia Dortmund during the 2001/02 season, but has less than happy memories of that night.
"If it actually happens, everyone can be proud and enjoy the moment," Reuter said. "I might even have a beer myself!
"I don't have many good [memories] in terms of how the game went [last time]. I was with Borussia Dortmund back then. We drew 0-0 at home in the Champions League group phase and then lost 2-0 in Liverpool, meaning we missed out on qualifying for the second group stage. It was obviously a disappointing result, so that's why I'm hoping even more that it will be different this time around.
"It's a game the lads can certainly get excited about. Playing at Anfield is a fantastic experience. We want to play with a certain level of respect, but we also need to be confident and needn't shy away from the task. After all, we showed in the first leg that we more than have a chance, despite being the underdogs."
Source: Liverpool Echo