Klopp: Guardiola Is The World's Best Manager

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola is the "best manager in the world" and says he has no problem finishing second to the Spaniard.

He said: "I'm lucky that I can say that my teams were at least close to his teams because I've said a lot of times, I think he is the best manager in the world.

"What he is doing with his team is incredible. The way they play, I really like to watch.

"Pep and I, we are different, so our teams mirror our character. He is much finer than I am as a person so he is the gentleman and I look how I look on the touchline. Probably a bit more intense maybe.

"There's no rivalry left or right of football. We respect each other lots but on the pitch we want to beat them, that's normal.

"At the end of the season in most of the seasons he has still won the league. In Germany always, and in England so far as well. That's how it is but I can easily live with that because I have no problem with being second even when I want to be first."

Liverpool currently sit 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League, 14 ahead of City, meaning Klopp is well set to finally triumph over Guardiola.

With a league title looking increasingly likely and alongside last season's Champions League success, Liverpool's current team has the potential to become an era-defining outfit, yet Klopp is unsure they will go on to dominate for years.

He said: "I don't think that something like that is possible still, this kind of domination in periods.

"It's not too long ago that we had the Barcelona of Pep Guardiola dominating pretty much everything.

"Man City dominating the Premier League for the last years since Pep is here at least. They are incredible and they have to fight each week.

"We don't think about ourselves like this. We don't think that somebody has to name us on the same level with any Ajax team, any United teams or other teams in the world.

"We just want to play the best football we can play and we want to have the best time together we can have."

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Top Four Our Realistic Target

Jurgen Klopp has said that Liverpool must improve if they are to finish in the top four qualify for the next season’s Champions League.

The German all but admitted Liverpool's title challenge is over as they currently trail top of the table Manchester City by 20 points.

But he said that there was still plenty for Liverpool to fight for and that there was no room for complacency.

Speaking ahead of their Boxing Day game with bottom-club Swansea at Anfield, Klopp said:

"We have to qualify for the Champions League. We have to finish as high as possible.”

"It looks like we could be second, third or fourth this year, that's a fantastic situation. Not the dream, but a fantastic situation.

"That's what we are working on and for this we have to improve in all departments.

"This year, I don't think that anyone apart from Manchester City and maybe Manchester United are thinking too much about how they can win the league.

"In a very difficult league, performance-wise we are really consistent so far. If we stay consistent and avoid our mistakes, mistakes like in the 3-3 draw with Arsenal, we will win much more games than we lose or draw.

"As it was and so it will be against Swansea, we have to perform first of all and then we have to see how the other team can react."

Klopp also warned his players not to underestimate their opponents despite the Welsh club’s lowly position.

"They are under pressure and that's clear because they fight for the league, 100 percent, and that will not change before Boxing Day," he added.

"But we will be ready and we will perform, if possible, like against Arsenal but avoid the mistakes we made.

"I don't really remember the game from last year, to be honest. I remember that we lost it. But that's not the plan!"

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Has Massive Potential - Klopp

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain has got what it takes to push the reds through to the top. The England international signed for the Reds from Arsenal on transfer deadline day and has started to find more regular games after a slow start.

Chambo has made 18 appearances for Klopp's side so far this season, contributing one goal and making two assists. The German coach believes he has the ability to be more prolific in the final third if he shows more decisiveness.

"He is on a very good way. I like it, but he has so much potential it's unbelievable, what he still not shows," Klopp told the club's official website.

"It's only just the beginning and I really like it, I really like it. He's like a wonderful package, I can only say.

"Hopefully he stays fit, that's the most important thing. He can be much more decisive in a few moments.

"[He's sometimes a] little bit too much of a midfielder instead of a striker - there are a lot of things he can improve, but I'm really happy about the status quo."

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Manchester United Is Next After Dortmund Contract Expires in 2018 - Jurgen Klopp

London based newspaper the Evening Standard claim to have the inside scoop on who Manchester United will have as their boss after Louis van Gaal.

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