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Jurgen Klopp: 'Liverpool only thinking about Huddersfield, not Barcelona'

Klopp: 'Liverpool only thinking about Huddersfield'
© Reuters
Champions Manchester City can reclaim top spot by winning at neighbours United on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp promised Liverpool's focus after reclaiming top spot in the Premier League will be on preparing for their game with Huddersfield and not on this week's Manchester derby.

Liverpool's 2-0 win at Cardiff on Sunday moved them on to 88 points, two more than title rivals Manchester City with three games left to play.

But City can reclaim pole position by winning their game in hand against neighbours Manchester United – who were thrashed 4-0 at Everton on Sunday – at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp maintains Liverpool are focused on their next game against Huddersfield
Jurgen Klopp maintains Liverpool are focused on their next game against Huddersfield (David Davies/PA)

Boss Klopp said: "Some people up in Liverpool might ask us if we are thinking about Barcelona (in the Champions League semi-final) or some b******t like that.

"We will be completely focused on Huddersfield (on Friday), but up to then we have to rest and recover and prepare.

"On Wednesday there is a game as well. When we played Manchester United, they were in a much better moment than they are now and that was 0-0. We will see what comes out of that game, but we have no influence on other games.

"If United get a point and we go to Newcastle thinking we have it, then we could get knocked there.

Georginio Wijnaldum scored Liverpool's opening goal
Georginio Wijnaldum scored Liverpool's opening goal (David Davies/PA)

"We just have to stay focused on our things, that's what has worked so well so far and there is no reason we should change that."

Second-half goals from Georginio Wijnaldum, only the Dutch midfielder's third of the season, and a late James Milner penalty secured Liverpool victory over relegation-threatened Cardiff and clinched a ninth successive win in all competitions.

Furthermore, Liverpool set a new club points record in the Premier League – eclipsing the 86 that Rafael Benitez's side managed 10 years ago in finishing runners-up to Manchester United.

"The points total is like a bill," Klopp said. "You don't know what it's going to be, but when it comes, you pay it.

Neil Warnock rejected Jurgen Klopp's claim that the Cardiff pitch was dangerous
Neil Warnock rejected Klopp's claim that the Cardiff pitch was dangerous (David Davies/PA)

"In the end, we will see how many points we have and then we get what we get. If you are only motivated to win the holy grail then something is wrong with you.

"We are motivated to play for this club, we want to win football games because we enjoy the ride with the fans."

Klopp described the dry Cardiff City Stadium pitch as "dangerous", an accusation which his Cardiff counterpart Neil Warnock strenuously rejected.

Warnock said the pitch had been watered before kick-off, but his primary concern remains the relegation battle and closing games against Fulham, Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

Cardiff are in the final relegation spot and three points adrift of Brighton, who have a game in hand.

"We got over the 11-points target (Derby's fewest points record) for the season," Warnock said.

"One by one we still keep surprising people, so who is to say what is around the corner?

"There are so many twists and turns. Fulham have won two on the trot, so that's not going to be easy.

"Then we've got Palace, who are probably the best away team in the league below the top six with the strikeforce they've got.

"It's going to be difficult, but right exciting."


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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp watches on on March 17, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City35292489226789
2Liverpool35277179205988
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs352311165353070
4Chelsea35207859382167
5Arsenal35206969462366
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd35197963501364
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35149124443151
8Watford35148135050050
9Everton35147145044649
10Leicester CityLeicester35146154847148
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham35127164454-1043
12Crystal Palace35126174348-542
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle35118163544-941
14Bournemouth35125184962-1341
15Burnley35117174462-1840
16Southampton35910164158-1737
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3597193254-2234
18Cardiff CityCardiff3594223065-3531
RFulham3565243376-4323
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3535272069-4914

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