Jurgen Klopp insists he will walk away from Liverpool if he ever believes they can’t compete for the big prizes.

The Reds go into Saturday’s crunch showdown against Manchester United at Anfield with Klopp adamant they can overcome the financial divide that exists between the arch rivals.

Klopp’s outlay of £149million on transfers during the first two years of his reign is dwarfed by the investment in United’s squad. Jose Mourinho has spent £306million since he took over at Old Trafford 14 months ago and enjoyed instant success with last season’s League Cup and Europa League double.

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

United and Manchester City have set the pace in the Premier League so far this term but Klopp believes Liverpool, who are seven points adrift, can still mount a title challenge.

“In the moment when I think we cannot be successful, and there is only consolation, I go,” Klopp said.

“Why should I be here as some kind of caretaker until the world creates a manager who can be more successful? That makes no sense. Of course I am really convinced.

“Other managers have different ways to do it, other clubs have different ways to do it. We have our way.

Show Player

(Image: (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images))

“We were fourth (last season). Not perfect, but okay. Could we have caught Chelsea? No. But we were not too far from City or Tottenham and now we want to make the next step.

“I don’t think I am the perfect manager, I only think I am the perfect fit for this club. And I feel already much more responsible than maybe I should.

“I still have the same fire, the same passion. I know people don’t want to wait. We cannot change this. If you don’t want to wait, don’t wait.

“But I don’t even think about saying: ‘That’s it.’ I really think we are on the right way.”

Klopp says he doesn’t envy the greater spending power enjoyed by the likes of United, City and Chelsea. He’s at ease with the fact he’s embarked on a long-term project at Anfield based on developing talent rather than a blank cheque book.

“If you have a really good situation in your private life, enjoy it,” Klopp said.

“If your neighbour has a better situation, does that mean you can’t enjoy your own situation? But he’s got one more car, he gets to go on one extra holiday.....

“It’s about us becoming happy, not about others. Can we dominate them for the next 20 years without spending the same amount of money? Probably not, but can we still be there? Yes of course. And we want to force this.

“We want to be consistent, constant at our high level and improve it, even when we lose a player in the future we want to bring in other players. That’s the benefit of a long-term project.

(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“I know the owners are not in doubt about me, about us, about anything. In Melwood we enjoy it. It’s really okay but of course we know we have to deliver.”

Mourinho set United up for a point in this fixture last season and got the dour stalemate he came for. Klopp doesn’t expect them to be as “passive” this time, but he’s ready to ensure that Liverpool grasp the initiative early on. It’s not in the German’s nature to be cagey.

He said: “Should we do the same so the ball stays in the middle of the park and no-one wants it? The game does not work like that.

“If we sat back and waited for one counter-attack nobody at Anfield would accept this.

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

“Mourinho teams are smart. It is completely okay, but we could have won last year. They will not be that passive this time. They are a different team in a different way.

“If there are one or two long balls that is not a problem for us. We can still win the ball there. You need to be ready for high pressure moments. You have chances in a game and you need to be ready. The rest is defending together.

“We have to improve in this switching mode from playing, playing, playing and then one chance to the opponent. That’s why I say it’s a concentration thing. It’s to learn.

“It is a difficult position. We have to be dominant, but if ever we make a mistake everyone says ‘ah it happens again’.

“Yes, we need a bit of luck too. Did we have much of it so far? I would say no but we have to work for it, nobody gives it to you for free.”

This season has been far from plain sailing for Klopp’s men. Too often their dominance in matches has gone unrewarded as a result of missed chances and glaring defensive errors.

'I was close, it was too much for a second'

Points have been carelessly squandered - the latest occasion at Newcastle a fortnight ago - and Klopp shares the fans’ frustration.

“At Newcastle, I was close (to losing it), it was too much for me for a second,” he added.

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“It felt unfair after the game. We were the better side, we had more chances. They had one chance and scored.

“Your colleague asked me ‘Do you think it’s a fair result?’ I said ‘What do you think?’ When he said ‘Yes’ I was close to getting up!

“As a human being I’m not proud of this. When I went out, I thought ‘Come on, go back, shake hands, it’s not his fault....’

“But it’s like the world is. They aren’t interested. It’s about results.

“Against City we were the better team before we had 10 men and then they scored five and something like 40 goals in two weeks.

“We got the other knock and thought ‘s***, we conceded five’ but it was not that bad. We were the better side in all the games after that and did not win, except at Leicester.

“The big challenge for us is to stay confident and play our football. I am ready for this and the boys are ready for this.”

There is no escaping the magnitude of Saturday’s game. Win and the gap to United will be down to just four points - belief will blossom. But lose and the Reds’ chances of catching Mourinho’s side this season will already look remote.

“These are facts, we cannot ignore facts, but it should not be in the middle of all the things we think about,” Klopp added.

“It is an early moment in the season. With all the problems we’ve had, we’re only just behind Tottenham and Chelsea

“Yes, it feels like we are the only team with problems and the two Manchester clubs are running.

“But we need to sort out our own situation and not think about gaps too early because it only makes you stiff. We need to be free and create atmosphere. It would be outstanding if all those who are with the Reds are ready.”