Klopp has no fear of trying to Gun down English rivals

® know about that.” City have won just once on their last 30 visits to Anfield and only beaten the Reds twice home and away in eight meetings.

Their latest clash was a classic 4-3 win for Klopp’s side on Merseyside in January that ended City’s hopes of going the entire Premier League season unbeaten.

“Our record is not too bad against City,” said Klopp. “Yes, it was a close game here. We are not the team they love to play constantly, let me say it like this.” Adding some extra spice to the tie is the fact that both clubs face derbies sandwiched in between the two legs on April 4 and 10. Klopp’s side take on Everton at Goodison Park on April 7, while Pep Guardiola’s men could clinch the title when they host bitter rivals United at the Etihad Stadium later the same day. But the Kop boss fears City could take their eye off the ball against United with the title already virtually won. He said: “Maybe they are not concentrating on that game because then they can be champions a week later and Man United can win a game at Manchester City, which would not help us.”

City’s 16-point lead at the top of the table means Guardiola’s side can start thinking about the crunch Champions League clash immediately.

But with just four points between Liverpool and fifth-placed Chelsea, Klopp is wary that the top-four race is still wide open heading into today’s home clash with Watford.

He said: “When I see the boys for the first time in the next half hour, I will talk about it then.

“Maybe they will talk a little bit but they don’t think about it anymore.

“We are used to it. We play Watford and it is not difficult to stay focused on that.

“The boys have two international games, then we come back and play against Crystal Palace.

“That’s our situation. We have to do the job. We are not like City in the situation of being already kind of champion, we have to fight for this top-four spot.

“That’s our situation. When the games are coming in the Champions League then we think about it – but not before or after.”