We cannot worry about Chelsea Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted his side cannot afford to worry about Chelsea after his side beat Manchester City 1-0 to maintain their second spot in the Premier League table.

They remain six points off Antonio Conte’s side who top the table after winning 13 consecutive league matches.

“I’ve said before, we cannot have a look at Chelsea. They are unbelievably strong and are on an outstanding run. And they won how many now? 12 games in a row. 13 already. Not bad. But can you imagine how annoying it is when you win 13 games in a row and there is still one team only six points behind. But I’m pretty sure they don’t think about this, so why should we.

“So it is completely not in important what happens in this moment apart from that we win games. That’s the only thing we are really interested in.

“And it’s so difficult in this league, it’s unbelievably difficult. And the next game already is waiting. It’s Sunderland and they fight for their life,” Klopp told reporters after his team beat City on New Year’s eve at Anfield.

Klopp was also pleased with his side’s defending throughout the 90 minutes at Anfield and expects a tough game at Sunderland on Monday.

“And you ask me in the next press conference who will you want to rotate or whoever and I say they [Sunderland] fight for everything. But that’s the situation. We got the three points and I really thought we deserved it and that’s the only thing that’s really important,” Klopp added.

Key Opta Facts:

– Liverpool have won four consecutive league games against Manchester City for the first time since 1981 (a run of seven).

– Pep Guardiola has now suffered twice as many league defeats this season (four) as he did in the entire 2015-16 Bundesliga campaign with Bayern Munich (two).

– Manchester City have kept just four clean sheets in their 19 Premier League games under Guardiola.

– Liverpool have scored 87 league goals in 2016; their most in a calendar year since 1985 (also 87).

– Adam Lallana has made seven assists in the Premier League this season (in 17 appearances) – his most in a single campaign.

– Lallana also ends 2016 having been involved in 21 goals in the Premier League (11 goals, 10 assists) – no midfielder in the competition has had a hand in more.

– The Reds won a Premier League game having only registered one shot on target for the first time since August 2013 (1-0 v Aston Villa).

– Sergio Aguero did not record a touch in the opposition box in this game.