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With three games remaining, you'd expect the toughest title race in years to take a toll on Jurgen Klopp.

After all, he kicks every ball, feels the intense heartbeat of every emotion.

Yet at Liverpool's training ground on Thursday, barely a minute passed without an uproarious laugh, or a cutting joke at the media's expense.

If it is an act, it is a good one.

Talking to him away from the glare of the TV lights though, there was a glint in his eye, an ease about his demeanour, which suggested he really is relishing this epic battle with Manchester City . This fight.

(Image: EMPICS Sport)

There is a reason for that, he explained. He trusts his players, for a start, and believes passionately they will not falter even at this most intense of moments. But there is something more fundamental.

Klopp is not going to apologise for being Liverpool. Not to anyone. Not even City. Because this is a team he believes is the best in England, whether they prove it with a title or not.

“We had to deal with everything during this season. We had a long period where it felt like we had to make an excuse and say sorry for not being like City,” he explained. “'Oh sorry!'

"But there is only one City and there is only one Liverpool as well. And I love that! I really think what the boys did this year was incredible. The work-rate is outstanding.

For example Neil Warnock said, ‘The work-rate of your team is incredible. We played against City and wow they are good, but your work-rate is unbelievable, the attitude and how they fight back and all that stuff.’

(Image: Getty)

“That attitude makes you a winner already before you win something. That is why I am so happy with the boys.”

It is this development which makes Klopp so proud... and also makes him believe that even if City have a perfect end to the campaign to deny Liverpool this title, their time will definitely come. It is also why he says they are the team of the year.

“It is just pushing ourselves to the next level, adapting to the different situations, learning from the mistakes we made last year, the mistakes we made this year, the away games in the Champions League group stage.

“I'll give you an example. To really learn you have to suffer from time to time and we really suffered a lot at Napoli. I had no explanation. It was one of the worst pressing games I ever had with the team. But having it is very important. We suffered and we learned something.

“I would love to have 97 points. Really. If we have them, then we played an outstanding season and whoever wants to say whatever about us, I couldn't care less.

(Image: Getty)

“The boys deserved each of the 88 points they have so far and now we have to make sure we deserve the other nine as well. It will be difficult but, and others will not agree, my team is the team of the year.”

Not that he is giving up on the title, not one bit. And his argument is powerful: Would ANYONE like to venture into Sean Dyche's Turf Moor lair needing a win, as City must on Sunday.

“Is Burnley a place that I would love to have now on the schedule for us? No. Honestly not. It is not a place where you think, ‘Oh! Nice, easy points!’” he said, with another smile. “It is a tough place to go and they [Burnley] are in a good momentum, they are used to that style of play.

“Look, it was not the last chance before City played United. Why should it be the last chance after the game? If anybody really thought that United, in the moment, are capable of hurting City... City are just too good for that!

“There is always hope, until the last whistle of the last game. That never changed.”