Jurgen Klopp: “There are three clubs who can do what they want financially”

Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool cannot match Manchester City when it comes to spending on transfers but the German coach believes they can find other ways to compete.

Klopp’s entire net spend in seven years at Anfield has been around £150 million, whereas Pep Guardiola’s in a 12-month shorter period is over half a billion pounds.

The resources available to City, backed by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour, mean they have been able to strengthen year-on-year.

Liverpool operate under a more restricted model under American owners Fenway Sports Group. When asked how his club could keep pace, Klopp said: “Oh, you won’t like the answer. Nobody can compete with City in that.

“You have the best team in the world and you put in the best striker on the market (Erling Haaland), no matter what it costs, you just do it.

“What does Liverpool do? We cannot act like them. It is not possible.

“There are three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially. It’s legal and everything, fine, but they can do what they want.

“We have to look at it (and say) ‘We need that and we need that and we have to look here and make it younger, and here a prospect and here a talent’.

“That is what you have to do. And you compete with them. You have to compete with them.

“It is not a problem at all for me, it’s like it is.”

Klopp on Newcastle

“I heard now that at Newcastle somebody (sporting director Dan Ashworth) said ‘There is no ceiling for this club’.

“Yes, he is absolutely right. There is no ceiling for Newcastle. Congratulations. But some other clubs have ceilings,” Klopp added.

Liverpool vs Man City

Klopp’s Liverpool face one of the toughest games of the season tomorrow when they take on league leaders City at Anfield.

“There were a lot of positive moments but with all respect to Rangers, we know there’s a big gap between Rangers and Manchester City, Klopp said.

“We have to prepare the game in a different way of course but using the positive feeling we have now, but that alone will not give us anything against City.

“It’s not that we now feel different or whatever. It’s a home game, it’s Anfield, it’s us against Man City.

“Yes, they are in the moment, definitely, the best football team in the world, that’s how it is, but we will give it a try anyway, knowing there are no guarantees.

“But we know we get help from a full Anfield and we try to use that.”