Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned Manchester City they have not yet seen the Reds at their best this season.
The two teams drew 2-2 in October and matched that result earlier this month, with Liverpool coming from behind to salute the point and keep themselves one point behind City in the Premier League title race.
The next stage in their rivalry comes on Saturday when they visit Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals – a game that comes three days after two teams booked a place in the Champions League semi-finals. The highly-rated Liverpool saw Benfica, while City were made to work hard and came out with serious injuries as they beat Atletico Madrid.
Klopp declined to see the plan as a benefit to Liverpool but warned City that his side would enter Saturday’s game in better shape than their previous game.
“We all think a lot about these games [with City], we should,” Klopp said. “I think City were really strong last week and we weren’t at our level, so I’d like to see the game where we are. As far as we can.
“That would be fun! Let’s try it. Maybe that would be a surprise, all of a sudden we are ready.
“The boys have done a lot of good things in the game, but I think in a few positions we can do it at a completely different level and I think we should try that. And a cup game, first. If it is 2-2 again, it is 120 minutes, and if it stays that way it is a fine and that can really go crazy if it goes all the way.
“I want to have 12 games from now until the end of the season to reach the finals. It is difficult but it is still the best plan to have because it means you have been in all the competitions for as long as possible. I’m looking forward to the game. Wembley is a big stadium, we have to cover a lot of grass and run a lot and close up the big gaps, but I think it will cool down. ”
Regarding the impact of the move, he added: “We had it last week before we played City. We had a travel game [in Lisbon] and arrived home the next day. Travel is tense, for sure. Will it give us a profit? I have no idea.
“We’ll see. It was tense for both teams [Wednesday].”
