Jurgen Klopp says he agrees with Pep Guardiola’s assertion that Liverpool are a “pain in the a***” for Manchester City. And the Reds boss has challenged his players to remain as “annoying as possible” to their title rivals between now and the end of a potentially thrilling Premier League campaign at Anfield. Speaking last week,
Pep Guardiola said of Liverpool: “They’ve been our biggest rivals in the past few seasons and are always there – a pain in the a*** all the time!”
Klopp said Guardiola’s claim is an accurate one as he called for his players to keep the pressure on the Premier League holders.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I think what Pep said is that we are the pain in the…lower back, that is a good description and that is how it should be. We try to be as annoying as possible until we have a chance to overtake. I don’t know when that will be or if it will be the case, but like I always said, in the decisive moments of the season it’s not now in February but March or April, rather, you have to be close enough to make a decision in your direction. I don’t know if that will be the case because what we do is pretty special and I don’t expect that to happen every week. You cannot turn around games every week and we have to be at our absolute best to play the best possible season for us. And unfortunately only twice a year we face the ‘other team’ in the Premier League. The first one was a draw when we were not brilliant but good enough to get a point (in October). The next one has not been played yet and we play all the others as well. So we play Spurs, Man United, all these teams. It is not that we just sit here and count those points like it is done and we wait until the middle of April for the City game. It is just difficult but what the boys did over the past four years is pretty special. I am happy with what but not overly happy where I think that is enough. We have to go from now on. So far it is not a bad season but the decisions will be made later. There is one decision at the weekend and the others are made later. We just have to make sure that we are always in and around when these decisions are made.”
The German also talked up the level that both Liverpool and City have been able to reach in recent years, admitting they need each other to keep the standards so high.
Jurgen Klopp added: “For us, first and foremost, it’s important to be close to the top, whoever is at the top. Because that obviously shows that something is going in the right direction. In this season included, in the last four seasons, we were not around for one year because we had our struggles, but in the other two before that, it was an insane race. Or maybe the year before (2020) it wasn’t because we were so far ahead. The year before (2019), it was a while ago now, but obviously both teams were able to do some special stuff I have to say. With all respect, what Man City is doing is incredible and we are pushing each other as well. It is not only us because there is also Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Tottenham, whoever is there. I don’t forget all the other teams. But I think we can say we are pushing each other, I think that is how it is a little bit, it keeps you going. There is no chance to get a bit soft or whatever because the other one will be there immediately to catch you.”
