Jurgen Klopp says “I love playing at 12:30” ahead of Manchester City clash

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp joked about how much he “loves” an early kick off as his team travel to league leaders Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime.

The Reds don’t have a great record at the Etihad, with their last Premier League win at the ground being in 2015, when Klopp first arrived on Merseyside.

The test remains as tough as ever, with City currently on a 23-match winning streak on home soil.

Of the 12:30pm kick off time, Klopp said: “No-one wants to hear it. Nobody wants to listen to my explanation.

“I tried a couple of times but whatever I say, you always say something different. I’m already a bit tired of that.”

He then exclaiming with a smile: “I love playing at 12.30!”

If Liverpool are to get the three points, they’ll leapfrog City to the top the table for the first time this season.

Klopp added: “Saturday is a tough one, it’s the strongest team in the world for the last few years. They are extremely strong, nothing I can say makes them weaker otherwise I would say it constantly.

“If we can make it really uncomfortable for them then we have a chance, if they feel comfortable in their game then there’s no team who can beat them.”

One player who could help bring City’s unbeaten home record to an end is on form Darwin Nunez. He looks set for a start at the weekend after scoring three goals whilst away on international duty.

The Uruguayan had been linking up well with Mo Salah before the break, to the delight of the Liverpool boss and Reds fans.

Klopp said: “Nunez is in a good moment, and we want to use him as often as possible.

“Darwin and Mo look for each other but it’s not like they cut out the other boys. It’s just a different way of playing.

“Mo supports the boys. Darwin came here, big expectations, and Mo probably understood the situation best and saw his potential and wanted to help him. Without having the longest conversation, that was for sure the start of a pretty special partnership.”

Alexis Mac Allister is another player who has high potential and could cause problems for City on Saturday, even if he plays in the deep lying midfielder role that he’s been entrusted with so far this campaign.

Said Klopp: “Is Macca a natural born six? No. Has football developed in the last few years in ways we wouldn’t have imagined? Yes. Does that mean Macca can play six? Yes.

“I like him there a lot. We can benefit a lot from it if we have a compact formation.”

Klopp didn’t have too much to say on the Premier League points deduction handed out to Mersey rivals Everton for financial breaches.

He said: “I have heard they have appealed. That’s it. Everybody would do that. That’s all I can say about that.”

His focus remains on the Red side of Liverpool, who will be aiming to claim top spot with victory at the Etihad Stadium in the lunchtime kick-off.