Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has complained that teams “don’t have the same respect for us that they have for Manchester City”.Do they really deserve more respect?
Liverpool start the day five points behind Premier League champions and current leaders City, having one played one game less.
City extended their lead at the summit with a landmark victory for Pep Guardiola over Bournemouth, while Liverpool face a similarly difficult Everton side.
But Klopp feels the Reds are up against it as opponents “don’t have the same respect” for them as they do City.
“A lot of teams saw that we were good at that and realised they were overplaying,” he said.
“If the team gives us the opportunity to do it we will still be there with the counter-press.
“But very often it is not possible. A lot of teams also play counter-attack against us.
“They don’t have the same respect for us that they have for Man City, for example.
“Against City, you watch it and wonder what they are doing. A week later they play us and they are thinking, right, let’s try.
“City deserve that but it makes a big difference because we have to be 100% concentrated all the time.”