Liverpool and City paired in quarter-finals

Anfield boss believes both sides will regard two-leg tie as ‘difficult’

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 allEnglish 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, with 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.

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 Manchester City it will be difficult as well.”

Begiristain said on City’s website: “We like to travel and to go to another country in the Champions League but it is what it is.

“We know each other very well, they are a very offensive team, the truth is it is going to be a great couple of games and we are going to see good football.

“We know the power and the strength of Liverpool – in the league they beat us, we beat them at home.”

LaLiga leaders Barcelona were drawn to face Roma, while Sevilla’s reward for victory over Manchester United was a clash with German giants Bayern Munich.

In the Europa League, Arsenal will play Russian club CSKA Moscow in the quarter-finals.

Pictures: PA/Getty. Rival bosses Jurgen Klopp, left, and Pep Guardiola will pit their wits against each other again when Liverpool and Manchester City meet for a place in the semi-finals.