Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reacted to Manchester City stumbling four points adrift of his second-placed Liverpool side and six of leaders Arsenal.
Klopp declared it “would be the biggest joke in the history of football” to dismiss Manchester City’s title chances after their 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Pep Guardiola’s side slipped to fourth in the table on Wednesday night as Leon Bailey’s strike saw the Villans overtake the reigning Premier League champions.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s 4-3 win over Luton Town and Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Sheffield United saw the top two build six and four-point leads over City respectively.
Earlier this week, Guardiola had declared that City would be crowned champions in May. Yet Klopp had no intention of making any such predictions when the Reds boss was asked about the title race, having twice lost out on the title by a solitary point.
“No clue (laughs). If we win it, I hope not!” he told reporters when asked if the battle for the championship could go to the final day this season. “I have no clue. We will see.
“If they lose and somebody would write City off, that would be the biggest joke in the history of football. That really makes no sense.
“Arsenal are obviously fighting, had a similar experience as we had a few days before. You have to play the next game from the start again. It’s 0-0, not 4-3 already.
“Aston Villa are incredible. United are there. Don’t play yet maybe the exact football whoever wanted, I’m not sure, the media or whatever have some arguments, but they have points like crazy. They are around.
“Chelsea, I’m not sure if they are coming still. But you have to play them anyway, who cares where they are? We have to play them and they are incredibly strong, the league is incredibly strong.
“You need to be lucky to get through difficult moments, with injuries especially. So I have no clue where this will end up.
“Probably (there are more challengers). There’s always two, huh? Maybe. I’m really not interested in that to be honest.
“As long as we are around there, I’m fine with that. It’s also so difficult and intense with the games coming up. Let’s get through this then ask me again in April.”
