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Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool's trip to Manchester United cannot mean any more than the three points on offer as the Reds have two more massive fixtures over the coming week, including what he describes as neighbours Everton's 'World Cup final.'

Regardless of what's at stake, every Liverpool match against their bitter rivals United is always a huge game given they are the two most-successful clubs sides in English football, as well as the rivalry between the supporters, and the game was dubbed “The British El Clasico” by Klopp himself earlier this season.

However, with the Reds looking to end the longest title drought in their history and the prospect of returning to the top of the Premier League table if they avoid defeat at Old Trafford, many believe that this meeting between the old foes has even more riding on it than usual.

Liverpool's 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture at Anfield back in December proved to be the final straw for Jose Mourinho as he was sacked after the gam e.

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The former United manager was left upset last season by what he viewed as over-the-top celebrations by neighbours City's players after their 2-1 win at Old Trafford put them 11 points clear in the title race, accusing Pep Guardiola's men of a lack of “education” but Klopp doesn't believe he has to issue any instructions to his own squad in this respect.

He said: “How can I show my players Manchester City's reaction at Old Trafford from last season and say 'don't celebrate like this?'

“Even December last year is different than February this year. It's a completely different situation.

“That will not happen for us. Points-wise it's not a bonus game for us but it's a game we have in hand because City are in the Carabao Cup final.

“We could be three points ahead – but only if we win that game – and let's try and do that.”

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Klopp added: “It's not more than the three points. We've played Tottenham, we've played Chelsea and after this we will have Watford and then Everton.

“Watford are unbelievable this year in counter attacks and they're 100% consistent and could make the top six, there are so many performances in which they play like a top-six side and have done a really good job doing that.

“Everton, we all know for them it's like a World Cup final. It's away after we beat them at Anfield in the 96th minute so how can we celebrate one win?

“The opponent is not important in that moment, we have to collect points, as many as possible and stay strong.

“If we stay strong for the rest of the season whatever happens, the whole unit, then everything will be fine.

“It doesn't mean it will be easy or decided but we can challenge everybody, every team, and that's what we need to show on Sunday.”

While United's revival under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since the last time the sides met ensures there are just two places between the respective sides in the Premier League going into the fixture they are actually poles apart in the Fair Play Table.

Liverpool lead the way with just 29 bookings and two sendings off from their 28 domestic fixtures so far this season but United are bottom with 59 cautions and four dismissals over their 30 games.

A fired-up Reds legend Steven Gerrard once got sent off just 38 seconds after coming off the bench in this fixture but Klopp is not envisaging any such problems with his current squad.

He said: “I think if you go back in the last 10 years or so, three-and-a-half years here and seven years at Dortmund, my teams were always in the top three for fair play.

“I'm 100% sure that someone will not take that as a negative and say 'yeah because you don't make the fouls at the right moment' or stuff like that but we understand aggressiveness in terms of hurting yourself and not your opponent.

“You have to be really ready to dig in and step in for each situation but not making active fouls, I've never understood that.

“I can't change my personality and neither can the boys. They try not to sour the situation by showing 'I'm ready for you out there'.

“There were good old times, it happened a lot and it doesn't mean it can't happen again in a game like this against United but it's not part of the plan.

“Be aggressive – yes – but the most legal aggressive, that's how it is.”