Dec 31, 2016 at 5.30pm UK at ​Anfield
Attendance: 53,120
Liverpool
1-0
Man CityManchester City
Wijnaldum (8')
Klavan (7'), Can (75')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Otamendi (93')

Jurgen Klopp: 'Liverpool defence was outstanding'

Jurgen Klopp shouts orders during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester City on December 31, 2016
© SilverHub
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praises his side's "outstanding" defensive performance during their 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised his side's defensive performance during their 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield this evening.

The Reds took the lead through a powerful Georginio Wijnaldum header after just eight minutes before keeping Pep Guardiola's side at bay for the remainder of the match.

Liverpool's defensive record is the joint worst in the top six, but they have now kept six clean sheets in their last nine matches across all competitions and Klopp insists that he pays no attention to the criticism aimed at his defenders.

"The quality of Man City, the situation – when you invest so much in a game like this at the end you want to have it all. Thank God we got it because we play again on Monday. It was difficult. We couldn't create too many chances. We defended really well. It was a wonderful goal," he told BBC Sport.

"We probably had the bigger chances. The second half our biggest problems were when we gave the ball away. I don't know of any real chances for them. I know everyone talks about our defence. It's not about avoiding goals – that's the end product – it's about how we work together.

"I think we have the smallest number of shots on our goal in the league. Tonight the concentration level was outstanding. I don't care about criticism of our defence. You always pick out things that aren't right but that's how goals are."

The match saw City fail to score for just the second time in their last 27 Premier League games.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola watches on during his side's Premier League clash with Hull City at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea20161342152749
2Liverpool20135248232544
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs20126239142542
4Manchester CityMan City20133441221942
5Arsenal20125344222241
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd20116331191239
7Everton208662823530
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom208572824429
9Bournemouth207492934-525
10Southampton206681925-624
11Stoke CityStoke206682432-824
12Burnley2072112231-923
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham2064102335-1222
14Watford2064102336-1322
15Leicester CityLeicester205692431-721
16Middlesbrough204791722-519
17Crystal Palace2044123037-716
18Sunderland2043131937-1815
19Swansea CitySwansea2043132345-2215
20Hull City2034131744-2713