Press conference: Klopp on Man City, right-back options, goals and more

The Reds host the reigning Premier League champions at Anfield on Sunday in a contest between the division's current top two sides after six rounds of fixtures. 

Ahead of the game, Klopp hosted a virtual press conference at the AXA Training Centre on Friday – read on for a summary of what he had to say... 

On how big Sunday's game is...

Big, big. Man City is an outstanding football team. They lost now against PSG. After Porto, I only knew the result and I said they probably will strike back. But they don't have to actually. I saw now the game obviously and it was a really good football game. Man City played a really good game, which they lost in two situations, let me say it like this, or three, four situations when they didn't use their chances and PSG could score. But when you think about the quality of the PSG team and the way Man City dominated them, that says a lot, that says a lot about the qualities. We have to play a proper football game, I would say, to have a chance. But it's Anfield and we are really looking forward to it, I can say that.

On Liverpool scoring 20 goals in the last six matches and whether the team's strike force has ever been more potent...

I don't know, I cannot compare. I thought actually we scored quite a few goals in the last few years, so I didn't think that it was that much more now, or I don't even know that. We scored some goals, that's true – but I know as well that we missed a lot of chances in that period, so it's clear. But I'm not sure if we should expect that now against City. I know there were games when we scored a good number, or they scored a lot of goals against us or we against them. We are in a good shape, that's for sure. We are in a good moment, let me say it like this. But that's what you have to be to have a chance against them. They are still really, for me, probably the best team in Europe in the moment and it's a tough one. Last weekend, they played Chelsea and everybody was talking about Chelsea, how good they are – and they are good, oh my God, they are really good – but City was clear, clear better that day. So, that's the team we will face and to win the game we have to score goals. All we did in the last few weeks now is helpful because we are confident in that department. But we have to defend on our absolute highest level to stay in the game and to make sure that the goals we score make the difference.

On his plans at right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold ruled out of the game...

We do a line-up and we have more options actually for the position, so we will see which one we choose. We have obviously James, we have Joe, we have Neco, we could change system – there are quite a few things. We have time to train this week, so there are a lot of things possible. But football is not the game anymore where you should have these one-on-one challenges for a long time. There are moments, seconds, but actually whoever plays there should be protected by at least two players in a right-back situation – that's a centre-half and a midfielder, and a winger in an ideal world who is there around. So, whoever plays there should not be afraid that he will be alone for a long time against really good football players, no doubt about that. But I don't know who will play for City in this moment, so it doesn't make sense to think too much about it. We have to defend as a unit and if we do that, then it's tricky for everybody. But there will be moments, of course, where individual quality will shine on both sides, and hopefully in the end it will be good enough for us.

On whether being in good form makes it easier or harder to prepare for this game...

I'm not sure if easier is the right word, but it's better. It's better, for sure, that you don't have to boost the confidence during the week and tell the boys during the week even when it's not that good on the training pitch but you tell them, 'No it's great, you look outstanding' and all these kind of things – what you have to do from time to time to get a more positive view on things again. We have quite a positive view obviously and we like the football we play in the moment, but we know we didn't play Man City yet in the league this season and they didn't play us. So whatever we can see, whatever we can use – and of course we will use the pictures from the Chelsea game and from the PSG game for preparing the boys – it's still different to play us. And for us, it's different to play against Brentford or Chelsea or whoever or Leeds to play Man City. This is a really special game of the season, every year – always the same. It has to be high intense because if it's not high intense, I would say then City is really difficult to play against. You have to be brave, you have to be front-footed, you have to be cheeky in moments, you have to be really your best version and then, but only then, you have a chance – exactly that is what we try. Whatever we did last week or now a few days ago only is OK, but it's not the one point which makes the difference in that game. The difference will [be] a lot of things we have to show on Sunday and that's a complex football challenge but, thank God, for both teams – and that's what makes it so exciting.

On whether remaining unbeaten after Sunday would make it a successful start to the season...

Yeah, a draw would obviously mean we would be unbeaten. Taking now already the point, I would say, is a little bit early. So, let's play the game and ask me after that. It's then matchday seven, right? So far the start is obviously OK but it's not that we are overly happy and think we couldn't have done better and stuff like this. So, it's just a start, that's how it is, and we have to carry on, that's what we do. I know if we would win, I would think, 'OK, that looks now like a proper start.' But I think it's then Watford after the international break, then it's Atletico and then it's Man United, so that's then matchday nine. I'm not too much interested in a start or whatever, I just want to play the best season we can play. For that, I don't draw any line under a specific part of the season and say then, 'So far, so good.' It is so far, so good but just a few games in, so let's carry on, please.

On the passing of club legend Roger Hunt...

There are so many people in our club who could say much more and find better words for the impact Roger Hunt had on this club. Yesterday, when we had the ceremony at the stadium, I spent some time together with Kenny Dalglish, John Aldridge and a few other guys and they obviously know much more about that. What they like about the club is that this club is really good – really good – in remembering their legends. We like that. Roger Hunt in his time was, for sure, one of the most influential players in the country and maybe in Europe. He was an exceptional striker, that's what I know. I didn't meet him, at least not in person, so that I could say something about him, but I know from all the people I spoke to we all will miss him, we all think just positive about him and we all wish his family the very best because he was a true legend of this club.

On James Milner's recent performances at right-back...

I'm not sure James knows already all the positions he can play. He doesn't like the position, but he plays it really exceptionally well because he's a smart footballer and he likes to be involved in the game. That's why he always thought he had to play in the middle of the park, but with the way we play, the right-back is quite influential, has quite a lot of possession, opportunities to be influential in the game and stuff like this, so in the moment I think he thinks it's OK to play there. We didn't make the decision yet, but if he plays there – or he is used to play there, like in the last few games – he did really well, that's true. He is just a very important part of the squad, not only if he plays – when he plays as well, but in the dressing room he is an incredibly influential player. It's really nice he can have both of these things; being in the dressing room, a real engine and on the pitch as well. I am really happy for him that he has the opportunity to play these kind of games and put in these kind of performances because it just shows his whole spectrum. He can do pretty much everything, he can play each position and it's really nice. In one point after his career, which will hopefully only be in a few years, he will appreciate that as well as an experience.

• Photos: Liverpool in training for Manchester City meeting