Klopp has no fear in bid to topple City: Matthaus

FORMER Germany captain Lothar Matthaus believes Jurgen Klopp can end Manchester City’s stranglehold on silverware in much the same way he did when Borussia Dortmund broke Bayern Munich’s dominance.

Liverpool’s last trophy was the league cup in 2012, while their wait for a championship title stretches back 28 years, but Klopp has a history of succeeding against more powerful, wealthy opponents having won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.

The first opportunity will come in the forthcoming Champions League quarter-final against City, who have already won the Carabao Cup and are Premier League champions in waiting.

Matthaus (below) believes Klopp proved his methods have worked before and can do so again.

“Maybe City has more money but I know the mentality of Klopp, I know the mentality of his team. They work very hard,” said the former Bayern midfielder after the 5-5 draw in the Legends match at Anfield which is set to raise more than £1million for the LFC Foundation, Liverpool’s official charity.

“Liverpool has the mentality and an atmosphere in the ground that is similar to Dortmund. He is a powerful coach. He can get people to take to him.

“He has to find one or two more players, especially in the defence to be better in the competition. “Jurgen knows exactly which player he needs.

“Some people were shaking their heads at £75m for a defender (Virgil van Dijk) but this £75m at the end shows the defence is a lot better.

“He didn’t change his style too much. He is working very hard, his team is always ready to fight for 90 minutes.”

Liverpool have the chance to prove their victory over City in January — their only Premier League defeat so far — was not a one-off as the pair meet in the Champions League quarter-finals early next month.

Even though they go into the tie behind City in the betting stakes Matthaus believes Klopp’s side have every chance of winning a sixth European Cup.

“Liverpool are not afraid to play against Manchester City.

“They showed weeks ago how you can win against Manchester City,” he added. Attack-minded: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp