Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool’s 20-point advantage over Manchester City is ‘unthinkable’ as the club close in on a first league title in three decades.
The Merseyside club were pipped to the title by Man City last season as Pep Guardiola’s side secured back-to-back Premier League crowns, but have responded with a record-breaking season to edge ever closer to a long-awaited title triumph.
Liverpool need just five points from their remaining eight fixtures to be crowned champions, and Klopp believes his side’s advantage is staggering given the quality of their nearest opposition.
City comfortably swept Burnley aside on Monday night, though Klopp admitted he had not considered the prospect of the Citizens catching his side following their Merseyside derby disappointment, insisting his sole focus is on his own side.
“No, It’s not about them catching us or whatever,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“The only thing I realised when I watched the game last night is ‘how is it possible that anybody is 20 points ahead of this team?!’
“That’s pretty much unthinkable, actually, so we must have done a couple of things pretty well and right!
“I don’t think about City catching us, I think about Crystal Palace. If you want to now make a headline about ‘City can’t catch us’ then that’s completely b*llocks because it’s not what I said. What I mean is, I am only concerned with what we are doing.
“I watch them [City] only because we play them in nine days, not because I hope they will lose. It was never like this; maybe when they played Leicester last year, but that didn’t work very well so I stopped doing it!
“I respect them a lot, they look like they will win all their remaining games because they look really strong, but they are always strong. And we are not so bad, so let’s think about that.”
Liverpool face Crystal Palace on Wednesday, with their next fixture being an away game against Man City. Liverpool could however claim the title on Thursday if City fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
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