Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone is looking forward to playing against Liverpool at Anfield while first choice Wojciech Szczesny facing late fitness test ahead of the Sunday’s titanic clash.
Mannone kept a clean sheet when he stood in for Szczesny at Stoke last weekend and feels his loan stint with Hull City has re-instilled the confidence in him.
The Italian, who stated that playing at Anfield has been his dream, enjoyed a successful loan spell at KC Stadium, where he broke a 104-year-club record by keeping seven successive clean sheets.
“I thought I had a really good spell at Hull last year and it gave me a lot of confidence. Playing in the Championship, all these games are the same as Stoke; you come for crosses, you need to read balls and you need to help your team out,” he said while speaking to Arsenal player.
“It was a really great experience. As soon as I caught the first ball from a long throw [against Stoke] I knew that I would help my team.”
However, like Carl Jenkinson and his manager Arsene Wenger, he is expecting a tough challenge against Liverpool and is hopeful of getting a victory at Merseyside.
“Liverpool will be more technical and play the ball on the floor more than Stoke,” he said. “You need to adapt to any team in this league. We need to keep to our game plan, pass the ball a bit quicker and create more chances.
“It is a dream of any kid to play at [Anfield]. I went a few years ago to watch a game, just to see the stadium. It will be fun if I have the chance because I would love to play in that ground, feel the atmosphere and hopefully get a win.”
Arsenal haven’t lost at Anfield since 2008 and will be looking to register their first victory of the season when the two giants meet on Sunday afternoon.
