Jekyll and Hyde Liverpool Can catch out Arsenal

What a difference 24 hours makes.

On Saturday Liverpool stunned Barcelona 4-0 with a performance that will have filled them with confidence ahead of the new season – only to come crashing back to earth on Sunday when they were on the receiving end of the same scoreline against FSV Mainz 05.

A Barca side featuring both Lionel Messi and former Anfield favourite Luis Suarez were sent packing on Saturday but less than 24 hours later, the Reds couldn’t back it up against Jurgen Klopp’s former team.

Emre Can was one of just two players to start both games, along with Adam Lallana, and refused to blame fatigue for the second loss.

However he believes the club are still in great shape ahead of the new season and their Premier League opener against Arsenal on Sunday.

(John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“We performed very, very well [against Barcelona] and [Mainz] was not a good game. You can say we’re tired but that’s no reason to play like that and we know we can do better,” said Can.

“We want to play better next week, of course, and we have one more week to prepare well for the game.

“I am very excited [for the new season]. Everyone is a good player, everyone we have bought is good and they have showed that in pre-season, and we did as well against Barcelona.

“If you play for a club like Liverpool, it’s such a big club, then it’s always a target to win silverware and that has to be our target this year.”

While Can feels Liverpool are ready for the Gunners, he admits he is not quite in peak condition, having featured for Germany at Euro 2016.

But he has a week left to ensure he is ready for the trip to the Emirates.

“To be honest I’m not 100 per cent and I have to work hard to get there,” he added.

“I have been working hard to get there for next week, then we will see how far along I am.”