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Jurgen Klopp insists even Champions League qualification might not satisfy him this season as Liverpool prepare for Sunday’s opening Premier League clash at Arsenal.

The Reds boss says he hasn’t been set any targets by American owners Fenway Sports Group going into what’s expected to be a hotly-contested 2016/17 campaign.

However, Klopp has vowed to deliver “the development and improvement” they want to see after a summer when he’s welcomed seven new signings to his squad.

A top-four finish would represent a significant step forward considering that Liverpool have only achieved that once in the past seven seasons. But Klopp says only come May will he know whether a Champions League spot would be something to really celebrate.

“If I said today that the only position which could make me happy at the end of the season is first place that would be silly because there are a lot of challengers,” Klopp said.

“I really want to look back after the season and be really satisfied. At this stage I don’t have any idea what that could mean.

“It’s clear that winning every game would make me satisfied but if we did that I’d be too drunk to look back!

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“Finishing above Arsenal would be great but where that means we finish I have no idea because there are a lot of other teams who could be up there.

“Arsenal are always in the Champions League. But in the Champions League they don’t go far enough and they haven’t won the league for a number of years, so even with success you can be disappointed.

“You have to be thankful for the things you get - that’s a very important thing in life.

“Would I be thankful for a Champions League place? I don’t know.

“It would be great as we haven’t played Champions League for two years. But I’m not sure yet whether I would be satisfied.”

It promises to be a hugely competitive season with Liverpool competing with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, as well as champions Leicester City.

The Reds have spent around £70million in the transfer market but that figure has been dwarfed by the deals done by United and City.

Klopp believes in the FSG model of developing talent rather than buying the finished article.

“The owners want to see development and improvement,” Klopp said.

“They want us to win as much as we can but there are no specific targets. They didn’t say ‘we want this and this’.

“They’re absolutely convinced about the way we’ve taken. When you are convinced about the way then you want to see where it leads, but you cannot be sure.

“The only thing we are sure of is that at the end - whenever that is - it will be finally successful. We aren’t people and our owners aren’t people who waste time.

“We want to try everything. Then we will see where it ends.”

The only team to think about is our next opponent

The spotlight was firmly on Klopp following his appointment last season but this summer it’s been a different story. The arrival of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, Pep Guardiola at the Etihad and Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge has dominated the agenda.

“I didn’t enjoy it last season when the focus was on me but I could ignore it pretty well,” he said.

“Now I don’t know where the focus is. I know where Pep, Jose and Conte are but I don’t feel it because I’m not interested.

“Focusing on your own way means not thinking much about the other teams. The only other team we need to think about is our next opponent. The rest can do what they want.

“Maybe a team will win all their games this season but it’s unlikely. The important thing is to be focused on your own situation.

“The earliest moment when it’s allowed to have a view on the table is four or five games before the end. Then you think ‘maybe this could happen’.

“When I first became champion with Dortmund, I told everyone I wasn’t interested in other results but I was sat in front of the TV watching Leverkusen thinking ‘lose, lose’. It doesn’t help.”

Klopp isn’t looking beyond Sunday’s trip to the Emirates - a stadium where Liverpool have only won once in 13 attempts.

(Image: 2016 Getty Images)

It ended 3-3 the last time the clubs met at Anfield back in January when Klopp was left to rue the impact of striker Olivier Giroud, who is unlikely to feature this weekend after his late return following the Euros.

“Last time the long balls were a big threat,” Klopp said.

“We knew about it because a lot of teams chose this way against us. But it was how they did it - the highest quality with Giroud and Mesut Ozil second balls.

“In the last few years Arsenal have had a more direct style. They have only good football players but they don’t use all of them in each build up.”

Liverpool centre-back Ragnar Klavan is set to make his debut at centre-back ahead of Joel Matip. Neither Daniel Sturridge (hip) nor James Milner (heel) are expected to feature.