Jurgen Klopp has responded to accusations from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola that Liverpool enjoy favouritism from the English media.
Guardiola hit out at the Reds this week and suggested ‘everyone supports Liverpool’ in their title battle with Manchester City, suggesting that the Merseysiders enjoy preferential treatment from the media and general public.
“Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone,” Guardiola told beIN Sports.
“Of course because Liverpool has an incredible history in European competition. Not in the Premier League, because they have won one in 30 years, but it is not a problem at all.
“Liverpool are alongside [Manchester] United as the most important team in terms of titles, legacy, history, dramas for many, many things.
“But we have since the last 11 or 12 years been there. I know sometimes we are uncomfortable, but I don’t care if the people want Liverpool to win more than us. It is not an issue.”
Liverpool’s hopes of overhauling the leaders suffered a blow after a 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Saturday and the Reds next travel to face Aston Villa on Tuesday.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of that clash, Klopp suggested emotions were perhaps running high for Guardiola following his side’s Champions League exit last week.
“I live in Liverpool. Here a lot of people want us to win the league that’s for sure. But even here it’s probably only 50%,” Klopp said.
“As a manager I had this experience recently, we are obviously influenced by he game the situation. I have said things, would I say it again? No. I said Tottenham play how they play but are still only fifth. It felt good at the moment but it is probably wrong.
“I don’t know which situation Pep was in. Getting knocked out of he Champions League is difficult enough to take. But then Liverpool made it to the final. You say what you say. I have no idea if the country is supporting us. It is not the feeling I get when we go to other places, it’s actually the opposite.”
