Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, feels Erling Haaland’s presence at Manchester City has made it nearly impossible to win the Premier League after five years of competition.
Liverpool’s first title in 30 years in 2019/20 ended City’s streak of four Premier League titles in five seasons, but Pep Guardiola’s men have beaten the Reds by a single point twice in 2018/19 and again in 2017/18.
However, Klopp’s squad enters Sunday’s first league match between the teams at Anfield 13 points behind the champions.
Liverpool’s worst league start in a decade has prompted examination of their summer signings.
The majority of the club’s transfer money was spent on striker Darwin Nunez, who has struggled to adapt to Jurgen Klopp’s tactics, while the choice not to strengthen an aging midfield suddenly appears doubtful.
In contrast, City has added the “greatest striker in the world,” according to Klopp, to a roster of proven champions.
Haaland has scored 20 goals in only 12 competitive games for his new club and enters Sunday’s match riding a 10-game scoring run.
Klopp stated in his pre-game press conference, “No one can compete with City.” “You have assembled the best team in the world and the best striker on the market. Whatever the cost, you just do it.”
Haaland’s buyout clause at Borussia Dortmund resulted in a substantially lesser transfer cost of $60 million than what Liverpool paid for Nunez.
Reportedly, the whole value of the Haaland agreement, including agents’ fees, incentives, and salaries, is as high as $212.4 million.
Klopp has been a fan of the Norwegian since seeing his “crazy” potential in a 2019 Champions League match between Liverpool and RB Salzburg. The Norwegian is demonstrating his worth on the field.
“Even when he was very little, his potential was unfathomable. We were already preoccupied with thoughts of him; how can he be stopped? He scored regardless.
“Physically, he establishes new benchmarks. His orientation on the field is outstanding due to the fact that he possesses a rare blend of physical prowess, technical skill, and extraordinary awareness.
Liverpool’s 3-1 victory against City to win the Community Shield in August gave the sense that another title battle between the two was imminent.
Since then, City is unbeaten in thirteen Premier League and Champions League contests.
Arsenal’s incredible start to the season has kept Pep Guardiola’s men off the top of the table for the time being, but the Manchester City manager believes that Liverpool remain his team’s greatest threat to winning the league.
“My opinion of this team will not alter,” Guardiola stated. Because I am aware of their excellence.
If this is the case, the title competition may be brief, as even Klopp has written off Liverpool’s chances.
Regarding the history of title-deciding contests between the two teams, he remarked, “It may be this year.” Simply not for us.