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Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool's clash with Man Utd will not decide title

Liverpool face Man Utd at Old Trafford from 1pm on Sunday on Sky Sports Premier League

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Soccer Saturday caught up with Jurgen Klopp ahead of his sides titanic tussle with old rivals Manchester United at the weekend

Jurgen Klopp says the outcome of the game against Manchester United on Sunday will not be decisive for Liverpool's Premier League title hopes.

Liverpool take on a resurgent Manchester United on Super Sunday looking to once again usurp Manchester City at the top of the table by avoiding defeat at Old Trafford.

However, like his Southampton counterpart Ralph Hasenhuttl, who after arriving at St Mary's told the struggling south coast club's fans: "If you want guarantees, buy a washing machine!" Klopp is similarly realistic when discussing Liverpool's title hopes.

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Whatever the outcome on Sunday though - and United have won seven of their last nine home league games against their arch rivals - the German insists the title race will not be over.

"The problem is never to play these game for the boys, it is all the talk around them," said Klopp in an exclusive one-to-one interview with Sky Sports ahead of Sunday's encounter with United.

"We try as much as possible to stay focused on ourselves and what we really can influence. And in the end, people are only nervous because in the end, people always want guarantees as early as possible.

People always want guarantees as early as possible. And nobody can give that
Jurgen Klopp

"And nobody can give that. The moment it feels a little bit as though City have the advantage because it is City, Tottenham have an advantage because they are chasing from behind and we have to play United.

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"That is how people see it. But in the end, absolutely no decision will be made this weekend or next weekend. That is what we created, a basis to fight for the league title until the very end.

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"So that is positive and we have to seen it like this, which we try. We never thought when we were seven points ahead that City will keep losing all their games.

"Yesterday [Wednesday in the Champions League against Schalke] again you saw that City were human beings as well. Expectations at Liverpool will always be very high, which is completely OK, they should be.

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Jurgen Klopp has turned his attentions to Liverpool's Super Sunday clash with Manchester United following his side's goalless draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League

"They dream and we dream. But we do not dream during a season. So we have to work for it."

Klopp has experienced the thrills and spills of a championship battle before while in charge of Borussia Dortmund, who won the Bundesliga with him in charge in 2011 and 2012

The German has warned Liverpool's fans there will be many more twists and turns to come this season before the eventual champions are unveiled.

"You always can strike back and even when in one or two weeks if we are not in the leading position anymore, we can strike back," Klopp said. "Other teams can struggle, so it is not finished.

In the end, absolutely no decision will be made this weekend or next weekend
Jurgen Klopp

"We cannot only be champion if we have a 20-point lead. This is a top league and there is going to be a top finish as we and Spurs have made it really exciting this year."

With only 12 games left to play, Liverpool still have the opportunity of a first Premier League title in their own hands.

However, memories of past failures - most notably when they finished as runners-up to United and City in 2009 and 2014 respectively - are still hard for the club's fans to shake off.

Klopp, though, is quick to remind Liverpool supporters this group of players are completely different to those who played under Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.

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Highlights from Liverpool's win against Bournemouth in the Premier League

"The only problem we get is when people compare it to four, five years ago it slipped through our fingers," he said. "Ten years, 12 years, but that is not important as that was not us. We had nothing to do with it.

"It was only the same club, but we are a completely different side and if we want, we can be a completely different club and more successful again in the future.

"And for this we have to be ready to work for it and be patient enough, at least until May when the decision will finally be made."

Liverpool head to Old Trafford on the back of a goalless stalemate with Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Anfield on Tuesday.

Ander Herrera is in the best period in his life, it is unbelievable how he is playing. [Paul] Pogba is Pogba again, the work-rate of all the strikers is unbelievable
Jurgen Klopp

The fact that a draw with the serial Bundesliga champions was viewed by some as a disappointing result, however, is proof to Klopp of just how far his team have come since his arrival on Merseyside in October 2015.

"We played two days ago against Bayern Munich - I do not know exactly how it happened, but we were the big favourites in that game," said Klopp.

"Bayern Munich the six-time German champions and five times in the semi-final in the last four years, or something like that.

"And they come here and have nothing to lose and we can only somehow get a result. So, they showed us a lot of respect, like City showed us a lot of respect when they played here in the league with a very defensive approach. And that is not normal for them."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Image: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has transformed Pogba and United since taking over the club in December

At the same time, though, Klopp thinks the final step in his players' development is to be more outwardly confident, perhaps taking a leaf out of the always-smiling German's book.

"We have to become more naturally confident," he said. "We grew very quick in the last couple of years in a very difficult competition, but, of course, we can still improve what we do and try.

"But I am in a good moment and looking forward to the rest of the season because I like the basis we have."

Klopp
Image: Jurgen Klopp says it is a positive big-name teams now adopt a defensive approach when facing his side

The visitors know they will be facing a much-changed United team this Sunday afternoon to the one they comfortably beat 3-1 at home in December, a loss that led to the departure of Jose Mourinho.

Since the Portuguese's exit, caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen eight wins from his nine league games, drawing only with Burnley in that time, to propel United up to fourth in the table.

In Klopp's view, there will be once again be an abundance of quality on display for United this weekend.

"I'm not sure if it is allowed that I speak too positively about the Man Utd manager! You never know in the beginning, that is how it is," he said.

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for his 'outstanding' work since taking over at Manchester United

"But now after almost three months, it is outstanding. Ander Herrera is in the best period in his life, it is unbelievable how he is playing. [Paul] Pogba is Pogba again, the work-rate of all the strikers is unbelievable. They always had the speed, but now they use them in all the right moments.

"So, there is a lot of quality now in the team. There was a lot of discussion about the last line, but now they work really well together. So, nobody speaks about the last line anymore.

"Goalkeeper was always good, so no problems there, but it is just a different side to the beginning of the season, for sure.

"But that is how it is, but we never expect an easy game going to United. It is always clear that it will be a tough one for Liverpool.

"But still we thought, let's give it a try, which is what we will do."

Liverpool play Man Utd from 1pm on Sunday on Sky Sports Premier League

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