Sunday 1 April 2018 23:48, UK
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Manchester City are favourites to progress to the Champions League semi-finals at his own side's expense.
The Reds host City at Anfield in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday night, resuming a rivalry which has seen 12 goals scored in the last two meetings between the teams.
Liverpool suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to the runaway league leaders in September after Sadio Mane was sent off for the visitors at the Etihad.
However, the Reds exacted their revenge in January with a 4-3 win at Anfield - ending City's chances of finishing the domestic season unbeaten.
Despite that defeat, Pep Guardiola's side remain 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League and Klopp admits it will be "unbelievably difficult" for his side to beat City over two legs in Europe.
Klopp said: "Did we think before the first game we would lose 5-0? No. Did we think before the second we would win 4-3? No. But do we know we have a chance? Yes.
"Actually that was clear before, but they are the favourites. We should finish the game with 11 first of all, that would be cool. We know it's difficult.
"At specific moments we are on a similar level but they have been much more consistent and that's why they are higher in the league. But we all know that in the game it doesn't mean too much.
"We see our chance but we know it will be unbelievably difficult.
"If I would have had the choice to watch a Champions League game I would watch this one. It is about tactics but there will be fire in the game, and it's at Anfield so the atmosphere will be good."
Liverpool's defensive record has improved considerably since Virgil van Dijk's arrival in January and the Dutchman is relishing the all-English quarter-final tie in Europe.
"It's very exciting. It's the quarter-finals of the Champions League and I've never played at this stage before," he said.
"I've watched big European games at Anfield before and I know they are very special. The atmosphere will definitely help us a lot.
"We know they are beatable (after the 4-3 victory), definitely, but this is a different game. Wednesday is only the first leg."
