Manchester City Is Still The Best Team In The World – Klopp

Jurgen Klopp still considers Manchester City to be the best team in the world, rejecting Pep Guardiola’s claim that Liverpool are the team to beat.

Guardiola has said it would be “almost impossible” for City to defend their Premier League title if they drop points when Liverpool visit the Etihad on Thursday due of the strength of the league leaders.

But despite Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the league campaign and their seven-point advantage at the summit, Klopp is adamant City remain the best.

“The opponent, for me, is still the best team in the world. And I don’t say that to say it, I said it weeks ago,” he told a news conference on Wednesday.

“It’s 100 percent my opinion because the way they play, the things they achieved, the ability and all that stuff. Nothing changed. Only the points changed, but not the preparation for the game.”

Klopp added: “I heard [Guardiola’s comments]. He said: In the moment.’ Yes, with the record we had in December — I’m not sure if another team had a record like this in December, I don’t know — we are in a good moment. And we are a very, very, very good football team as well, so that’s why we have the amount of points, that’s why we had the results. But we prepare for one game.

“Would I say they are the best team in the world if nobody asked me? No. But we talk about it. It sounds like we go there and we are more likely to win the game than they [are]. It’s just not true.

“Only the situation a couple of weeks ago, we were a point behind and if you lose then it’s four points.

It’s only talk, it’s nothing to do with the reality. A big part of the football world is talking about it before it happens. But we are there to let it happen. That’s the difference.

“We are very excited because it’s a very interesting, difficult, game we have to play. Apart from that, it’s a normal situation.”

Liverpool are searching for their first league title since 1990, as well as their first trophy under Klopp’s management.