Jurgen Klopp Dismisses Inferiority Complex for Liverpool Ahead of Manchester City Clash
By Ben Carter
Liveprool manager Jürgen Klopp insists that his side will not feel like they're punching above their weight when they face the "best team in the world" this weekend.
The Reds welcome Manchester City to Anfield in what is already being described as a potential title decider, with Liverpool able to move nine points clear at the top of the table if they pick up three points against Pep Guardiola's side.
City haven't won at Anfield in 16 years and they've failed to win their last three matches against Liverpool at any venue, while Klopp also has the edge over Guardiola in their personal head-to-head record.
But even with the chance to move nine points clear at the to of the Premier League table, Klopp insists the club's main title rivals are still "a step ahead" of Liverpool this season.
"It depends on what you want to judge, are we capable of beating the best team in the world? Yes, we are," Klopp said, quoted by The Liverpool Echo.
"That makes us capable in moments to play the best team and beat them, so that is possible, but I think on a completely normal day, they are still a step ahead. That is how it is.
"To compare with Pep, it is easy to understand what I say and with my team, I don't want to make us smaller than we are because we are incredible in moments, really incredible, but we still have a lot of space for improvement.
"It is not too important what you are in this moment but what you can be in the future, but you have to use everything. We all ask for that and it is necessary. Keep a performance level and then we make the next step. That is what we do in life and in football.
"It doesn't make us smaller, we want to beat Man City. We know how difficult it will be but we want to beat them. We have no excuses before the game, it is only what I said, it should not be an excuse."
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