Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that he is “completely calm” following Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Manchester United on Wednesday night.
Man City’s victory at Old Trafford moved them back to the top of the Premier League table, a point clear of Liverpool with just three matches left to play.
However, the first half of the match highlighted Klopp’s opinion that the title is very much still to be fought for, with Manchester City looking nervous and struggling to break Manchester United down in the opening 45 minutes. Eventually though Pep Guardiola’s side managed to find a breakthrough in the second half and ran out comfortable winners.
As quoted by Sky Sports, Klopp said: “If nothing really strange happens City would win the game so I was not surprised, not nervous. I assessed myself how it feels – completely calm.”
The German added: “For me all is good and the decision is not made yet. It’s not that last night was the final game of the season. It was just another game of City, they deserved to win.”
Liverpool head into their next game against already relegated Huddersfield Town at Anfield on Friday night knowing that a victory would once again take them back to the top of the table. It would also put added pressure on Manchester City who travel to Burnley on Sunday looking for a 12th straight Premier League victory.
Klopp’s side will need to reflect the belief of their manager, that they can still win the Premier League despite Manchester City’s form, if they are to carry on winning games and applying pressure to Manchester City in the final three matches of the season.
OPINION
Klopp would have been secretly hoping that Manchester United could have done his side a favour on Wednesday night by getting a positive result against City. However, despite Manchester City managing to win, what on paper at least, appeared to be their most difficult game left this season the German is right to still believe his side have a chance. Liverpool can continue to put pressure on Manchester City by defeating Huddersfield Town on Friday, do that and it will then be up to Manchester City to carry on their run of 11 successive victories at Burnley on Sunday. That will be far from easy for Pep Guardiola’s side, with Burnley having already taken points off Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea since the turn of the year. Liverpool and Klopp will continue to hope for favours from elsewhere, but must also make sure they do not slip up either.
