‘You feel small ‘ – What Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger have said about Liverpool and Anfield atmosphere

After the international break, Liverpool will return to European action when they visit Austria in the first game of their Europa League campaign.

After dropping out of the Champions League for the first time in six years as a result of their fifth-place finish in the Premier League last term, the Reds’ Group E campaign will get underway on Thursday, September 21 when they visit Austrian Bundesliga side Lask.

At the start of October, however, Liverpool will welcome European competition back to Anfield for the first time in eight months when Belgian Pro League side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise visit Merseyside. That particular clash will see new Reds midfielder Alexis Mac Allister face up against his brother Kevin Mac Allister.

For both of the Mac Allister brothers, it will be their first taste of European action at Anfield and, given the resounding plaudits the iconic venue has received in years gone by, both players will be in for a treat.

Here, the ECHO takes a look at what the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger have all said about their experiences of Anfield.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Speaking to Gary Neville back in 2021, legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson explained how difficult it is to take to the iconic venue as a visiting figure.

“It’s a marvellous atmosphere,” said Ferguson. “You have to expect that atmosphere even if you’re losing.”

Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta has endured heavy defeats at Anfield as both a player and a manager of Arsenal. Last year during Amazon’s Prime filming of the Gunners’ All or Nothing documentary, the Spaniard revealed how Anfield caused him to freeze.

“There is a word we use in Spain on cycling. When a cyclist is going up and looks amazing, and in one kilometre he goes [points down] and looks like he [makes crashing noise]. The word is called ‘bajar’,” said Arteta.

“I had it once at Anfield. The game was going there and suddenly I could only see red shirts flying around, the game is passing all over me and I cannot react. And people think, ‘What is he doing’, and I am like, ‘I cannot do it, I cannot do it emotionally, physically I cannot cope’. Everything goes too fast and I only had that feeling in my career once, and it was at Anfield.”

Arsene Wenger

Having witnessed Liverpool’s resounding 4-0 comeback win against Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was well-placed to discuss the devastating influence of Anfield as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho watched their 3-0 first-leg lead vanish on Merseyside.

Working as a pundit for BeIN Sport, Wenger said: “In Europe, they do well. Why? Anfield.

“[For a] home game, this is the most heated stadium in Europe in a return game. It is the only place you don’t want to go.”