This is a no lose game for us
Win and we're 10 points ahead
Draw and we're still 7 points ahead
Lose and we're 4 points ahead
Any of the above scenarios still mean that they have to go out and overhaul a deficit. Of course a win or draw would be infinitely preferable to losing, but we've got money in the bank here and no worries about spending it. I can say this as this squad is built of a helluva lot stronger mettle than past variations and show a confidence in their ability that we've not seen in decades.
Key for me is this however: I see absolutely NOTHING that we should fear from them. Nothing at all. That is not bravado, but fact. They're totally "get-atable" and do not like being pressured. We've shown that as have others. Us on the other hand have shown a side to us that we've (again) needed for decades when faced with adversity: Adaptability. we just figure out what's not working and change it. A plan B or even C. Substitutions have worked and worked well. When we're not firing on all cylinders, we've changed gameplan. In other words, Klopp and the coaching team has played a blinder thus far and in fact are showing signs of getting better.
Last thing that has me buoyant: We have their number.
We're their fly in the ointment. The sand in their sandwich. The itch they can't scratch. The pain in their arse.
Even if they beat us Thursday, they've not changed anything. Nothing at all. My perspective is that losing this game only means something if you want to go through the season unbeaten. As fantastic as that would be - and yes, of course it's possible - it's unrealistic to expect. And plain greedy. I'll settle for losing one or two games still, as it is certain that the others will drop more points than us.
That said, we've got a freedom to do whatever we want in Thursday's match that we've never had in the league. A total freebie. Losing means nothing, except to those wanting us to fail. Win or draw and it just strengthens our position even further.
To be fair though, I would love for us to do what we done to Arsenal and batter them completely of course. Totally steamroller them and show them up for the facade that they are. They have some great players, but we have a great squad. They may have some "on paper" better players, but we've got a togetherness that no-one else shows as having. They still rely on individuals to bail them out when the chips are down - we do it together.
Personally I see us not losing Thursday for the very reason I said above about having their number - they fear us... and we don't fear them.
After all: Why should we?