Jürgen Klopp addressed the media at Melwood this afternoon ahead of Liverpool's trip to Manchester United on Sunday.

The Reds boss offered an update on the fitness of Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip, a view on his side's creativity and spoke of his excitement about the clash at Old Trafford.

Read on for a summary of the other topics Klopp discussed during his pre-match press conference…

On the importance of the game…

It's important, we cannot ignore this, but the season doesn't end after it, that's another truth. If you want, United, Everton, these games are always important either way - you can be 10th and they can be first, or they are 15th and we are first and makes no difference for the game. It's very important and we know about this, but of course if we could win there it would be nice, actually, but then the next challenge is then already clear. We have a lot of games to play and a lot of points which you just get, and these are only three of those if you only see it in general. But I don't see it in general, I see it more as a real challenge because of the soft issues. It's a special game and we are aware of it.

On Jose Mourinho being one of the most competitive managers he has faced…

He was always. But I don't think there are a lot of managers around who don't want to win. But yes, he's especially in this part pretty sure. He's top-level, but it's not new so we cannot be surprised about this and we should not be surprised about this. We have this kind of angriness also in us - we go there for a result, no other reason. Last year was the first time I had the experience to play there, it was good, a good atmosphere, an intensive game. We were ready for it and we will be ready again. You need to have in each game this little bit of luck in decisive situations, but that's for both of us. I don't think that Jose or myself, how much we want to win, can make the difference. I think both meetings will be clear in all the things we have to do on the pitch, and then the players have to perform - that's how it always is.

LFCTV GO: Watch Jürgen's pre-United press conference in full

On the history of the fixture…

I don't have to [remind the players how significant it is]. The players are long in the country, the players know more about the fixture. Most of the players are really experienced enough to know about it, it's not about making it bigger than it is or whatever. It's very, very big but at the end it's only football and in each game when you are part of the game attitude is very important, motivation is very, very important but being brave, being clear, really ready for the special things. There's no time for looking for excuses or something, when you miss a pass or whatever then you always have to be ready again in the next second, that's clear. But long before the meeting, before the things I can say, these players know about their responsibility.

On United's current form…

In all the games they won until they played us, they didn't play against us again, so what can I say? They were different kind of games, some very good games, some had the result they expected, in other games they had a little bit of luck, goals in the right moment. They deserve their run, I know that, but we always expect the players in the best shape and then we start defending them, that's how it is, and it should be more difficult than against all other teams. That's our plan.

On Mourinho's tactical approach in the 0-0 draw at Anfield earlier in the season…

I think, actually, they came here to win and they could have. I think we were the better side in this game, we were dominant, [but] United started really high intense and aggressive in all the pressing situations. But at the end one of the biggest chances in the game was probably the header of Ibrahimovic and I think we should avoid situations like this, that's clear! But it's a different game and it's not that we expect them [to be] playing like this again or whatever. The detail probably will make the difference and, of course, the readiness for defence - that's very, very important. We cannot go to Manchester and try to play a little bit of football and then look what happens. We go there and we will line up for this and be really ready for the challenge and we'll try everything to make the difference on the good side.