Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool have little margin for error in the Premier League title race as he expects Manchester City's relentless pace to continue.

The Reds have made the best start to a top-flight season in their 126-year history but they still trail Pep Guardiola's side by two points.

However, Klopp says there's no reason to feel disheartened and has urged his players not to waste energy thinking about City ahead of Saturday's lunchtime clash at Bournemouth.

“How can you moan about that? The only job we have to do is collect as many points as we can and then you have to see,” Klopp said.

“We cannot do more. It is absolutely not a problem for us that we go in the dressing room and see the Manchester City result and they have won again.

“We expect them to win all the time apart from the games against us. We have only to try to play the best season we can play. In this difficult period you have to focus completely on your own performance.

“You cannot play against two teams – the one on the other side of the pitch and the one in your mind. That doesn't work.

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“Whatever they get at the end of the season they probably deserve. It will be the same for us.”

Liverpool reduced the deficit to two points with their gutsy win at Burnley on Wednesday night.

City have been in irresistible form but they haven't been able to shake off the Reds.

“You would have to ask them what it means for them,” Klopp continued.

“I know Pep obviously but not good enough to say how interested he is in what we are doing or what other teams are doing.

“A lot of teams played a really good season so far. There is no satisfaction. Nobody feels like 'give us a rest'. We want to go now.

“The good thing with this number of games in a short period is we have a lot of opportunities to win.

“We know how difficult it is. The week coming up now is crazy – Bournemouth, Napoli and Man United.

“That's a massive week again and we have already had a few massive weeks. That is our life and we love it."

(Image: AP Photo/Jon Super)

Klopp burst out laughing when asked if it was possible for the Reds to emulate Arsenal's Invincibles of 2003/04 and go the entire league season unbeaten. That might be what's required in order to get past City.

“I think a lot of teams are good enough to go the season unbeaten but it's still difficult,” he said.

“Without luck, no chance. With a lot luck, we probably have a chance, but we don't think about that.

“It would mean we're already thinking about the games in January and February. We have enough to do with the next few weeks.”

Win at Bournemouth on Saturday and Liverpool will go top, at least for a few hours with City facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the 5.30pm kick-off.

Would that apply some important pressure to the champions?

“I don't think that City need to prove any tests,” Klopp countered.

“I'm not sure, ask them and get an honest answer. How can I know even a little bit what other teams are thinking?

“We played Burnley after City won the night before so City were five points ahead before we started. I didn't think for a second about City. I expect them to win their games.

“You don't look at it and think 'oh City'. They win their games. That's how it is and we need to win our football games.

“Five points, three points, two points, whatever, it's still so early in the season. What City think I have no clue.”

This month is all about ensuring Liverpool remain within touching distance of the summit before they travel to the Etihad on January 3 for what promises to be a titanic battle.

“A lot of things can happen before then. We need to make sure we are in a good shape that day, 100%,” Klopp said.

“We can't say we play against City and maybe we'll only lose 1-0. It's our game and it's in four weeks.

“There are a lot of strong teams. Does anyone want to play against Arsenal at the moment? I don't think so.

“Tottenham, Chelsea, Man United - they are really fighting for each yard. Does anyone want to play against Everton in this moment? Bournemouth too by the way. There are a lot of good teams in a really good moment.

“On match days, I don't think about City. I see their results afterwards and it's not like 'oh City won again'.

“We can all unfortunately lose football games - apart from Arsenal in 2003/04.”

Klopp will make changes once again for the trip to the Vitality Stadium with Andy Robertson and Gini Wijnaldum among those set to be drafted in.

Joel Matip looks certain to start alongside Virgil van Dijk in the absence of centre-backs Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez.

The midweek win at Burnley fuelled Klopp's belief in the depth of talent at his disposal.

"We could make the changes and the boys on the pitch got rhythm as well," Klopp said.

"Take Joel Matip, he trains on an outstanding level. The game starts and then his first pass is average. The second pass is average again. The third pass is..... how must that feel?

(Image: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

"I knew it. I tried to be: 'Come on, new start, no problem, go ahead.'

"His second half was completely fine. That's what players need. Now he has more rhythm which is good. We need him desperately.

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"That's how it is with all the players. It helped a lot. Divock Origi, after Everton, he was close to the ceiling but no rhythm when he started (at Burnley). We didn't just change the line up, we changed the formation. We had two strikers and stuff like that and without training it that didn't make life easy for the boys. We have three or four systems we can play.

"There were a lot of difficulties and the boys did really well. This game helped a lot for sure."