JURGEN WON’T KOP OUT OF TITLE FIGHT

JURGEN KLOPP is licking his lips at the prospect of what he considers to be a wide-open race to the title next year.

And the Liverpool boss is adamant that he will not be ‘buttering’ up rivals Manchester City – who the bookies tip to be runaway 2018 champions.

Liverpool were beaten 5-0 at The Etihad but Klopp has already healed his wounds and declared the title race is definitely not over – despite the Manchester clubs’ early breakaway from the chasing pack.

The German, obviously studying a list of popular English phrases, said: “There are a lot of games still to play and nobody goes through this league like a warm knife through butter.”

Klopp (right) stresses City have a mountain to climb in terms of playing the Premier League’s big guns and will not accept Pep Guardiola will automatically get his hands on the big one in his second season in England.

He said: “If you ask, ‘Is the race already done?’ City are so strong, flying at the top of the table. But there is still a lot to play for, especially for us.

“We have improved since last year. Perhaps not in the results but in creating moments.

“If we can add the consistency to what we have had display-wise, we can have our best season. “Against City it was not that there were twenty leagues between us.

“We were quite good in this game but lost five-nil. It sounds quite difficult to understand.

“And while we have played well since then we haven’t got the results.

“But City have to play us one more time and United and Tottenham twice and another against Chelsea.

“So there are a lot of games still to play. They still have a job to do.”

Klopp is relishing pitting his wits against Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino today.

He said: “It was clear when I first came here that they are a skilled squad and have a fantastic manager.

“They have improved. They are title contenders. They were last year and two years ago. Why shouldn’t they be this year?

“We will put pressure on ourselves to go there and get a result.

“I know about the situation and how things can happen if we win, lose or draw but it is about going and getting a result.

“That is all we can do.”