• ‘You can be 10th and they can be first… it makes no difference to the game’ • Klopp unconcerned by Liverpool’s lack of goals in past two matches

Jürgen Klopp has billed Liverpool’s Premier League trip to face arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday as a “special” fixture – but insists it does not take on any extra significance just because both teams are back battling at the top end of the table. A United victory would take José Mourinho’s side within two points of Liverpool in fourth but Klopp believes the intensity will be no higher than usual in a fixture which always draws the spotlight.

“You could be 10th and they could be first, or they are 15th and we are first – it makes no difference to the game,” he said. “It is very important, we know about this. It is a special game and we are aware of that: the players know more about this fixture, most are experienced enough.“If we can win there it would be nice, but there are a lot of games to play and a lot of points which you should get, and these are only three of them. Both teams, especially in the long term, are in a good shape. We can lose against each team and we can win against each team.”

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Klopp will go head to head with José Mourinho, looking to get one up on his counterpart after the Portuguese ‘won’ their first meeting, having completely nullified the threat of a free-scoring Liverpool side with a goalless draw at Anfield in October.

Now United are on an upward curve the task will be even harder, and Mourinho will be no less determined to beat his rival. He was always [the most competitive] but I don’t think there are a lot of managers who don’t want to win,” Klopp added.

“It is not new and we should not be surprised about this. We have this kind of angriness in us also. We go there for a result, no other reason. Last year [in the Europa League)] was the first time I’d had the experience to play there and it was a good, intensive game.

“I don’t think José or myself, no matter how much we want to win, can make the difference. The players have to perform, that’s how it always is. We were ready for it [in March] and we will be ready again. In each game you need to have this little bit of luck in decisive situations, but that is for both of us.”

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It is in attack where Liverpool have struggled in their last two matches, failing to score against League Two side Plymouth in the FA Cup and drawing a blank against Southampton in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final in midweek.

Despite that, Klopp stressed that did not mean it was time to look to change what had worked so well so far in the season or for players to become concerned.

“It was only one game where we didn’t create a lot of chances - the last one - but that is how it is in life,” he said.

“If something doesn’t work you have to think about it. But there is no time for looking for excuses when you miss a pass, you have to be ready for the next situation.”