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Jurgen Klopp: 'Manchester City most difficult opponent'

Klopp: 'City most difficult opponent'
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warns his side that Manchester City will be "the most difficult team to play" this season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned that Manchester City will prove to be his side's toughest opponent this season ahead of their meeting at the Etihad this Sunday.

The Reds will leapfrog Pep Guardiola's side in the table if they fail to lose in Manchester, and Klopp has already attempted to play down the significance of the clash in the race for a top-four finish.

The stats are on Liverpool's side, however, as they boast the best head-to-head record of the top six, with five wins and four draws from their nine games so far, but Klopp thinks that facing City is a different kettle of fish.

"I think there were other games we played much better than these games," he admitted in his weekly press conference. "In these [top-six] games we have some ideas, if you want, but it was always really hard work. It was not genius. You have to win all of the decisive challenges, all of them.

"We felt so far good in these games but for me, it's the most difficult team to play - City. The Pep Guardiola style... that's real football. It's difficult to defend against them and a lot of teams have felt it already.

"We know what we have to do there. If we can do it? I don't know in this second, but we will try everything to do the right thing. It could be a fantastic game to watch.

"If we are passive against City, no chance. We need to be active, we need to be brave."

Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge have been ruled out of the clash, while Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi will face late fitness tests.

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Neil Wilkes
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Roberto Firmino in action during the Premier League game between Everton and Liverpool on December 19, 2016
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


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