Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool are capable of defying the odds in their Champions League showdown with Manchester City as he vowed: “There will be fire.”

The stage is set for a momentous night at Anfield in Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg against the Premier League champions elect.

Klopp says Liverpool must combine passion and desire with tactical discipline if they are going to overcome Pep Guardiola’s side.

Asked what he had learned from the two Premier League meetings with City this season, Klopp said: “You should finish the game with 11 men. Be cool.

“We know it’s difficult. Did we think before the first game we would lose 5-0? No. Did we think before the second game we would win 4-3? No. Do we know we have a chance? Yes, that was clear before.

“But they are the favourites. In specific moments, we are on a similar level but they do it much more consistent, that’s why they have around 20 points more. No problem with respecting that, but we all know, in this game, it doesn’t mean too much.

“We see our chance but we know it will be unbelievably difficult. But if I have the choice to watch a Champions League game, I would watch this one. It’s about tactics but there will be fire, that’s cool. It’s at Anfield so a good atmosphere to watch.”

Liverpool were far from convincing in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace but Klopp insists that was down to the international break rather than the City tie proving to be a distraction.

(Image: Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

“I don’t think that anybody for one second thought about the game on Wednesday,” he added.

“I know my boys well enough. The first players came back on Tuesday, didn’t train, then you have a recovery day and a second recovery day. It means the first session was Thursday.

“All the others – apart from the Dutch guys, they played Monday – all the others only trained on Friday. Roberto Firmino didn’t play half an hour (for Brazil), Mo Salah didn’t play the second game (for Egypt).

“It’s the mood you are in. You go there, you prepare and the manager tells you ‘I want to see a few others’ so you stay out. Then they come here and it’s kind of a battle again for everything. Then you come to Crystal Palace and you need to be spot on.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

“Football is a lot like cycling, you can miss it, it can happen and then you have to remind yourself constantly. That’s why I’m really happy we won, but I really don’t think there was any influence from Wednesday.”

The Reds rode their luck at times with former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke missing two glorious chances when it was 1-1. They wobbled defensively in the first half with Palace taking the lead from the spot after Loris Karius had brought down Wilfried Zaha.

“Maybe both the Benteke chances were not a defending problem,” Klopp said.

“It was offensively where we played a rubbish pass. You cannot defend such a pass. It has nothing to do with defending. Yes, the goal and the penalty and the situation before, you can defend better even when it’s very difficult.

“Benteke or (Romelu) Lukaku in these situations are really good. We spoke about positioning but it was a different position here than Manchester United because someone told me it was the same as United.

“Loris was there for the first chance, that was fantastic for us. A lot of opponents who people think defend better (than us) have had a lot of moments where goalkeepers need to make spectacular saves. We usually don’t have that, but we had it at Palace, we take it and I’m very happy about it.”