Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel feels that the club have regained the fear factor while playing at home after a poor start to the season.
Liverpool’s home atmosphere this year has been very vocal as their side have beaten the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City with the backing of the home support. Skrtel also believes that the team has turned Anfield into a fortress similar to last season when they simply used to blow teams away, “It’s always an advantage to play at home because of the fans and the atmosphere,” Skrtel told Liverpoolfc.com. “The atmosphere against City was unbelievable.
“For the last 10 minutes, you couldn’t hear a single word on the pitch. We couldn’t talk between each other because the crowd was so loud. That’s what we like and we enjoy that. I hope it’s going to be the same against Burnley.
“I think we got to that point [turning Anfield into a fortress] last season. When teams came to Anfield, they were, I guess, a little bit scared.
“We had great results there against Everton, Arsenal and Spurs. I think we’re getting to that point [this season] as well and we just want to keep that.”
Since the start of this year, Liverpool have dominated teams at home and have dropped just two points in early January to Leicester City who happen to be the only side to stop the reds from having a 100% win ratio at home in the Premier League. Liverpool have been equally good away from home as well and have recorded five consecutive clean sheets for a while now. The unbeaten form of Liverpool has helped them to a fifth place, just two points behind Manchester United who sit in the last Champions League spot.
Such has been Liverpool’s form that former Manchester United player and current pundit Gary Neville wrote in his Daily Telegraph column, “For the first time this season I am concerned as to whether Manchester United can fight them off in the scrap for the Champions League places.”
Liverpool next host Blackburn Rovers at home in the quarter-final clash of the FA Cup and are favorites to win that game as well. After that, their next home game in the Premier League will be against Manchester United after a trip to Wales to face Swansea City. United are the side that last beat Liverpool in the Premier League. The game will be an all-important clash for the Reds and the atmosphere will once again be very vocal.