Klopp dismisses talk of Liverpool as favourites

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is unconcerned his side have been installed as favourites to win the Premier League title. Sunday’s win over Brighton, allied to Manchester City’s goalless draw with Arsenal, took the Reds to the top of the table with nine matches remaining.
Arsenal went back to the summit after a 2-0 win over Luton on Wednesday, but Liverpool can regain the lead today if they beat basement club Sheffield United at home. However, Klopp is taking nothing for granted. “The situation is, for us, Sheffield United, and not who is the favourite,” Klopp told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“I am pretty sure when we lost at Arsenal (on February 4) we were not favourites after that – maybe rightly so – but I don’t know and I don’t care,” added the German, who will leave Anfield at the end of the season.
“One of the most important things to get through this period is to ignore the outside ‘mess’ as it goes up and down and is emotional. We have to be professional – be emotional but in the right way – and be the best version of ourselves, play the best football we can play and then let’s see what the outcome is.”
City and Arsenal were both in action on Wednesday but Klopp had no plans to watch either match. “I told you one story, years ago, I watched a game and wanted Leicester to win (against Manchester City in 2019) and it didn’t happen,” he said. “That was the last time that I did that. That’s when you learn from the past. When they play, my heart-rate doesn’t go up. We need to get our points in, win our football games.”
Sheffield United have conceded 77 goals in 29 league matches so far this season and have a goal difference of minus 50 after managing just three wins. But Klopp said his focus would remain firmly on the Blades, rather than the seemingly more difficult task of trying to win away to Manchester United – who knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup three weeks ago at Old Trafford – on Sunday.
“If I would think now about Manchester United, our people (fans) would have a right to think I am already too long in the chair,” he said. “It makes no sense. You cannot win football games not respecting the opponent. I have no chance of influencing the Manchester United game at the moment...Sheffield United deserve our full respect and they will get it.”
Midfielder Curtis Jones, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury, is in contention to play against the Blades, Klopp said, after he returned to full training this week. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has stepped up his training, but is not expected to return to full team training until next week.
Klopp also expected the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Stefan Bajcetic and Diogo Jota to return to first-team training next week – welcome additions amid the squad’s quest to win their first league title since 2020.
“We need everybody who can come back,” Klopp said. “It’s really, really a tough period, but obviously exciting as well. They’re all difficult (matches) for different reasons, but we are really looking forward to it, cannot see it differently.”
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk said he was dreading Klopp’s departure from Anfield at the end of the campaign. “I’m a very emotional person and I don’t like to say goodbyes,” the Dutch international defender said.
“Being the captain now as well, it’s going to be horrible in that sense, because probably I’ll have to speak a little bit, and like I said - that day I’ll be dreading. It makes it a lot easier if we have success.”