Jurgen Klopp casts doubts over Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League

The Reds have spent over £115m this summer and could be Manchester City's closest challengers

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has cast doubt over Liverpool’s ability to end their 28 year wait for a league title.

The Reds have spent over £115m on Fabino, Xheradan Shaqiri and Alisson this summer, and welcomed Naby Keita who signed for them last year in a £53m deal.

Manchester City are favourites to defend their title crown, with many believing that Liverpool could be their closest challengers, but Klopp says that winning the Premier League could be a step too far for his side.

“The League will be difficult,” Klopp told the Liverpool Echo. “It is not about judging our situation and thinking ‘wow, really good.’

“We need to be ready each week, not only for a few games,” he added. “This is our challenge.”

Liverpool beat Manchester United and Manchester City in the International Champions Cup as they continued to prepare for the new season after their Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid.

Klopp says winning the league will be ‘difficult’ for Liverpool (AFP/Getty Images)

Klopp’s fourth year at Liverpool begins against West Ham at Anfield on Sunday, and he is already facing a problem in defence, an area Liverpool have spent over £140m on in the last two transfer windows.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are Liverpool’s only fit central defenders with Joel Matip (hip) and Ragnar Klavan (hamstring) both fighting to be ready for the opening weekend.

“Joel, we’ll have to see. Klavan, shouldn’t be too serious, but if Tuesday is too early I don’t know yet,” said Klopp.

“Maybe we will do some magic things with the formation on Tuesday. I don’t know how we will do it Dejan didn’t train so far. He probably won’t play Tuesday, and Sunday will be very difficult as well.

“The first two league games at least are in the ‘pre-season’ [for the World Cup players].”