Jurgen Klopp joked that Pep Guardiola ‘should play poker’ after the Manchester City’s manager hinted he would field a weakened team against Chelsea on Thursday.

Guardiola suggested he would rest a number of key players for the visit to Stamford Bridge with one eye on their FA Cup quarter-final at Newcastle United on Sunday.

Anything less than a City win at Chelsea will see Liverpool confirmed as Premier League champions after Klopp’s side thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 on Wednesday.

But the German wasn’t being fooled by Guardiola’s comments, saying: ‘What? He said that? Pep… he should play poker probably!’

Despite Liverpool’s 23-point advantage over City at the top of the table, Klopp was effusive in his praise of Guardiola’s side and the style of football they play.

‘Manchester City – I couldn’t respect them more,’ he said on Sky Sports.

‘The football they play, I really like it a lot. We are different, we have to be different. We cannot be like Manchester City.

‘We probably celebrate different things when they happen. There are different ways of football and I like them both.’

Having restarted their Premier League season with a goalless draw in the Merseyside derby with Everton on Sunday night, Liverpool rediscovered their best form to sweep Palace aside.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane scored to move Liverpool to the verge of a first title success in 30 years.

If Chelsea beat City or the game is drawn, Liverpool will be mathematically confirmed as champions.

But if City win, then Liverpool can seal the title by beating or drawing with their nearest challengers at the Etihad Stadium next Thursday.

‘You should not underestimate how much this team wants it,’ said Klopp. ‘This team really wants it. They want to fulfil the wishes of the people at home, really. We all have a common dream but we have to work for it. We have to work our way for it.

‘We can’t play like other teams but we can play pretty good stuff. That is what the boys did. When we spoke after the game, we spoke about the clean sheet.

‘Usually when that happens, Alisson is massively involved. On this occasion, that was not the case.

‘The game was exceptional. From talking about football, it was exceptional from so many points of view. It is so difficult against a 4-5-1 but how we pushed them back!

‘The free-kick of Trent? Exceptional. The second goal? Wonderful pass from Fabinho, sensational finish by Mo.

‘The third goal was then Fabinho… yes! He scored already against Man City like that, he showed he can do it. But then we score the fourth goal. What a pass from Mo! Sadio finishes the move off, exceptional. There were so, so many good things about it even when we did not score.

‘When the kids (substitutes Neco Williams and Harvey Elliott) came on, they were involved immediately and they could have scored.

‘This game will last in my mind for a while. This is where we want to be. This is what we have to show against each and everybody.’

source:- allfootballapp