City will not fancy facing us, says Klopp

PREMIER League leaders Manchester City will not relish the prospect of facing Liverpool for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, according to Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp.

The Premier League duo were the last pair out in yesterday’s quarter-final draw in Nyon, which also saw holders Real Madrid given a tie against Juventus, last season’s beaten finalists who knocked out Tottenham this term.

Anfield will stage the first leg of the all-English quarter-final on April 4, with the second leg to be played on April 10 at the Etihad Stadium.

The two clubs have already played each other twice in the English top flight this season – with the Reds inflicting City’s only Premier League defeat so far.

City strolled to a 5-0 home win over Liverpool in September, Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane both scoring twice after Sadio Mane had been sent off.

Liverpool gained revenge at Anfield in January when they inflicted what so far has been the only Premier League defeat for leaders City, who were beaten 4-3 and needed two late goals to add respectability to the final scoreline. ■■Champions League quarterfinals: Barcelona v Roma, Sevilla v Bayern Munich, Juventus v Real Madrid, Liverpool v Manchester City. Ties to be played on April 3-4 and April 10-11.

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain was in Switzerland for the draw and afterwards admitted the tie was “a very difficult one.”

Klopp took questions on the European fixture as he spoke ahead of today’s Premier League home game against Watford.

The German said: “I think it is an absolute dream draw – for all Manchester United fans. I really don’t mind.

“I knew it would be difficult and that is difficult.

“The good news is for City it will be difficult as well.

“I saw Txiki Begiristain’s face after the draw – and it did not look like it was Christmas and Easter on the same day.”