Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City could be a title-defining encounter, but not for his side.
The Reds and the Citizens have engaged in multiple two-horse races for the Premier League title over the past few years, but Klopp's side are already playing catch-up to the reigning champions.
An underwhelming start to the season has left Liverpool down in 10th place, having won just two of their opening eight games, and they are 14 points adrift of leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's side are only one behind the table-topping Gunners, who retained their grip on first place with a 3-2 win over Liverpool at the Emirates last weekend.
When asked in his pre-game press conference if Sunday's game could end up proving pivotal in the title race, Klopp responded: "Could be this year, just not for us.
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"When you play City, results left and right are not really important. This game requires all you know about football, it's the biggest challenge you could face in football.
"It's a home game, it's Anfield, they [Man City] are definitely the best team in the world at the moment, but we will give it a try, knowing there are no guarantees, but we will get help from a full Anfield and we will try to use that."
Liverpool will face the unenviable task of attempting to quell City's star striker Erling Braut Haaland, who has already amassed 15 goals from nine Premier League games in his debut season.
The 22-year-old has been classed as a slight doubt for the contest after sitting out the midweek Champions League draw with Copenhagen, but he is expected to come back into the champions' lineup to spearhead the charge.
When asked on how Liverpool planned to deal with Haaland, Klopp affirmed that his side would try to stop the supply into the forward, albeit while leaving gaps open for other City players to exploit.
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"Obviously when you play against somebody at the moment who is the best striker in the world you have to make sure he doesn't get that many balls," Klopp added.
"That's what we will try but obviously against City the problem is if you close Haaland down with too many players you open up gaps for all the other world-class players. When he was very young, you could see the potential, it was insane.
"I don't think he started against us in a home game, I think he was injured or came on - but we were already pretty busy with thinking about him, I can remember that. How can you close him down, shut him down - he scored anyway!
"Physically he sets new standards, the combination of being really physical and technical and sensational awareness, his orientation on the pitch is exceptional, he knows always where the decisive gaps are, barely offside.
"Now at City he has some of the best players in the world at setting up goals - [Kevin] De Bruyne, [Riyad] Mahrez, [Phil] Foden, Bernardo Silva, - so it's a perfect fit."
Klopp was also asked for an injury update following their 7-1 thumping of Rangers in the Champions League, but he refused to mention any specific players ahead of Sunday's game.
Ben Knapton
