A game like Federer against Nadal. Find Jurgen Klopp. On Sunday there will be a showdown in the championship race between Manchester City and Liverpool FC in the Premier League. The Reds coach is full of anticipation and chooses pithy words in advance.
The race for the Premier League crown is really exciting with eight games to go. Once again Manchester City and Liverpool FC duel for the title. On Sunday evening (from 5.30 p.m.) there will be a showdown in Manchester.
Can the Skyblues extend their lead over the Reds to four points with star coach Pep Guardiola? Or can Jürgen Klopp conquer the top of the table with the LFC?
At Friday’s press conference, Klopp further fueled the tension ahead of the showdown. Even if the German coach was still a little low on the absolute importance of this game for the outcome of the championship. The 54-year-old explained that “we’re not up and running with a win and a two-point lead, and nobody at City would think like that if we lost either.”
Klopp’s anticipation of the duel doesn’t detract from that: “To be honest, I’m expecting an interesting football game. The recent history of this game shows that it’s always well worth seeing – because both teams really go all out. Both are always interested in finding gaps, in creating opportunities, in gaining momentum.”
Nobody needs to be prepared for a dull and tactically shaped 0-0 on Sunday. Klopp, the master of metaphors, compared the Premier League cracker to a tennis classic: “We push each other to unbelievable consistency and unbelievable points, almost like Federer and Nadal.”
He sees his opponent as the toughest in the world. Coach colleague Guardiola had already ennobled Klopp several times as the best coach in the world. “In fact, there is no game in world football that can be compared to a game against City. Because they are good in practically every area, because there are no real weaknesses,” enthused Klopp of the Cityzens.
The German had good news for all Reds fans: “All players are available.” So a full band on Sunday in Manchester. But that’s always the case with City against Liverpool anyway. Just like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Everything about the Premier League in 90min
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