Liverpool met Manchester City four times this season, across all competitions, and they won three times. The men led by Jurgen Klopp ended City’s 22 game winning streak in midseason, and they were one of just two sides (Manchester United is the other) to beat the Citizens in Premier League play.
While the Reds ousted City from Champions League, and overall looked fantastic in the head to head, they’re still a whopping 17 points behind them in the table, with just a few games remaining.
Jurgen Klopp has no fear of the just crowned Premier League champions, and he relishes the opportunity to try and close the gap next campaign. He’s already throwing down the gauntlet, and looking ahead to 2018-19.
“Of course I don’t fear the challenge,” Klopp told his news conference ahead of the visit to West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.
“This year, if City plays a normal season – which they didn’t do – then it would have been really close until the end because we are now all close together.”
“United is four points ahead [of Liverpool], Tottenham is two points behind. It’s a real fight for these positions. All big six pretty much delivered this year but City delivered the best. We will see. It’s difficult to deal with success as it is difficult to deal with other things in football but I’m pretty sure they will be strong again.”
Klopp obviously realizes how strong City are and how likely they are to be dominant again next season. The German is also naturally aware of the immense financial resources City possess, and what a tremendous obstacle that provides.
“It’s not important how good City will be, it’s about how we can get all the other points, plus the points we got so far again,” Klopp continued.
“That’s the job to do. That is why it is always possible that it is closer. But are they able to dominate? They don’t have a limit to spending and all that stuff so I don’t know.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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