Jurgen Klopp would not trade Liverpool’s current position for Manchester City’s as Premier League champions

City could break the 100-point barrier if they win their remaining matches

Tim Nash
Friday 04 May 2018 17:53 BST
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Klopp is competing in his third final with Liverpool
Klopp is competing in his third final with Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp claims he would prefer to be in Liverpool's position chasing European glory rather than be domestic champions like Manchester City.

The Reds are seeking to be champions of Europe for the sixth time when they take on Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26 after toppling Roma in midweek.

City are the runaway Premier League champions with 93 points and three games left, 21 ahead of Liverpool, who still need to avoid defeat at Chelsea on Sunday to confirm their top-four place for next season.

But Klopp, the Liverpool manager, believes the romance and profile of reaching the biggest final in world club football tops the achievement of City, who they beat in the quarter-final.

“There are not a lot of teams in world football where their season is already done,” said Klopp. “For example, City are champions and still play football chasing records, but they have these long weeks now with training, recovery and always being fresh.

“But I wouldn't change it at the moment to be honest as we're going to Kiev. Life in the Premier League doesn't always feel like a holiday.”

Liverpool are seeking to make it back-to-back top-four finishes for the first time since 2009 and Klopp believes such a record would be the club's biggest achievement for a decade, especially as they are without the injured Emre Can, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Lallana and Joe Gomez.

“It would be massive. If we do it, it would show everything, but it's still an 'if'. I don't like the word 'would' too much,” he added. “Let's talk about it when it happens. We have to play games to make that happen. It was actually the main target we had at the start of the season.

“With the group we've got, with how we came to the final and playing with the biggest intensity in all parts, being ready again, then the injuries we had, it would a massive success. It's exactly what we want.”

Liverpool expect to have midfielder Can available next week. He should receive the green light to resume full training on Monday after injuring a bone in his back against Watford on March 17.

“I think he will have a scan on Monday and then we will know more,” said Klopp. “He's done a lot of things and it feels really good but you always need a doctor to tell you: 'Now it's fine, now you can go again.' That would be good news for us.”

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