Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Liverpool will not overlook Sparta Prague this evening, despite a huge showdown against Manchester City at the weekend.
Liverpool take on the Czech champions in their Europa League last-16 tie tonight, before a crucial showdown with title rivals City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Sparta have lost just once domestically this season and have won nine consecutive games in the Czech First League heading into the clash, while Brian Priske’s side thrashed Galatasaray 4-1 in their last European fixture on home soil.
Klopp admits it would be foolish to overlook Sparta on Thursday, despite the looming battle between the Premier League’s top two this weekend.
“As far as I know it is the only game we play tomorrow night so that’s the most important game we have. We don’t make any difference,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“We would not have won the League Cup, we would not be in the next round of the FA Cup, we would not still be in the Europa League if we would prioritise a competition.
“We never did – maybe it would be smart if we do it, but I am a bit dumb so I don’t know how to do that, and we go in each game with all we have and hopefully you will see that tomorrow night. That’s the target.”
On the threat Sparta will pose his side, Klopp added: “We obviously watched Sparta now and it was interesting, [it was] an intense week for them as well.
“Two games against Slavia [Prague], so obviously a pretty special week. One game, the cup, they won and the other game they kept the distance in the table with a draw, so that’s obviously very helpful.
“Since the manager [Brian Priske] is in, things turned around, which you can see. Becoming champions after such a long time, you can see that in the confidence the team is playing with, a clear idea, very intense.”
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