Jurgen Klopp ‘happy’ with Liverpool squad but Man City still Premier League title favourites

Liverpool may be champions of Europe but manager Jurgen Klopp believes that Manchester City remain the team to beat in the Premier League.

The German also admits that the Anfield club are still not in a position to compete with Pep Guardiola’s City in the transfer market.

Speaking during the club’s tour of the United States Klopp said: “It would be great if we can be close to them again, it’s clear they are big favourites.

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“The greed and determination they showed after scoring 100 points the season before was impressive.

“They wouldn’t have got 98 [points] without us and vice versa, all these games are so difficult we know we were lucky against Spurs at home, one or two other games too but then in some games we were unlucky.

“No one can take away that we won the Champions League but it will not help us in the league this season.”

In an interview with the club website the Liverpool boss added that he was “relaxed” about the transfer window and said he was “really happy” with the players at his disposal.

“It will not be the biggest transfer window; we invested a lot in the team in the last two years. We cannot spend every year in the same manner,” he said.

“People talk about it like, ‘now another £300m or £200m’. There are maybe only two clubs in the world - it looks in the moment like Barcelona and [Real] Madrid can do the same - [Manchester] City and PSG that can do it every year.

“But we are fine. I’m happy with the team, we are really happy.”

Liverpool’s only signing this summer has been Dutch youngster Sepp van den Berg, while City have broken their transfer record signing Rodri from Atletico Madrid for £63m and paid another £10m for defender Angelino.

“Pep Guardiola has shelled out more than £500m on players in his two years at City, while Liverpool have spent roughly £300m in the same period,” Sky Sports reports.

But one significant summer development for the Reds could be the manager’s commitment to the club.

“There were indications in the aftermath of Liverpool’s Champions League triumph that Klopp may be prepared to take a sabbatical,” says MailOnline, but he addressed those reports by saying he “cannot imagine” not being in charge at Anfield.

The German “promised he will never walk away from a Liverpool contract, as he reassured the club there was no cause for concern in his delaying talks on a new deal”, adds The Daily Telegraph.

“Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, would willingly extend Klopp’s existing terms beyond the three years remaining, the directors hoping to retain the coach for the duration of their reign.”

And the Anfield boss shrugged off concerns about his long-term future.

“We have enough time to make decisions in that department. There is no need to do it now,” he said. “Three years is really a bit early to be concerned. It is just a contract.

“The owners like what I do; I like what the owners are doing. I love the team, they are brilliant.”

Wembley clash

Premier League runners-up Liverpool face champions and FA Cup winners Man City in the FA Community Shield on Sunday 4 August. The match at Wembley Stadium in London will kick off at 3pm (BST).