BEING BRAVE KEY FOR KLOPP

LIVERPOOL can deliver the knockout blow that could end Pep Guardiola’s season... if they’re brave enough.

That’s the message Jurgen Klopp will deliver to his fired-up players as they head to Manchester City in search of the victory that will not only make his team red-hot favourites to make the top four, but damage their opponents’ hopes of doing the same.

It is a crucial showdown in the race for the Champions League, and with City reeling after their midweek European disaster, Klopp will order his side to go for the throat.

Klopp (above) said: “We have to deliver. We only go there to get something. Usually, you go to City, and you can get a point... should I already be satisfied with this? No. I’m not.

“I don’t think about it this way. I really think about what we have to do – we will go there and try to win the game.”

Klopp acknowledges that victory for his side would pile even more pressure on their direct rivals for a top-four place... but he is painfully aware talking about it won’t make it any easier. The Reds boss said: “Could I put them under pressure with words? Should I start?

“The only way to do it is focus on our own game. If the table was only the top six we would be in a better position, so obviously we have not done a lot wrong against these teams.

“To put them under pressure we have to get more points than nearly all of them, which is not too simple. In the most intense part of the season there are seven or eight teams fighting at the top of the table.

“That is a lot. There is always a real battle, and a surviving battle. The only way to do it is to be focused on our games, use the information we had.”

Klopp will have Roberto Firmino back for the visit to the Etihad, and Dejan Lovren could also start. But, whoever plays, the Liverpool manager wants his team to be bold and go for City’s jugular.

“If you are passive, you have no chance. You have to be active, and to do that you need to be brave,” he added.

“City are strong and, if we get a little bit passive, they can play around us.

“It is a real challenge on the tactical side.”