Klopp fears "misunderstanding" as he gives Premier League title race verdict

Jurgen Klopp has rubbished suggestions the Premier League title race will be a two-horse race between his Liverpool side and rivals Manchester City in the seasons to come.

The North-West giants have shared the past five top-flight crowns, with City winning two titles either side of the Reds' success in the 2019/20 campaign. Last season featured another thrilling duel between the star-studded outfits and Pep Guardiola's Sky Blues emerged victorious on the final day by just one point.

City and Liverpool finished 19 and 18 points ahead of third-place Chelsea respectively, leading many to believe there is a significant gulf in class between the division's top two teams and the Blues. However, Klopp has dismissed this speculation by claiming last season's table did not do Thomas Tuchel's side justice.

"We are not that far ahead," Klopp told ESPN when asked about Liverpool and City's apparent dominance. "That's always a misunderstanding of the points tally of last season.

"We played Chelsea - I don't know how many points more we had, I really don't - but we played them four times and we didn't win one game against them. It's not because we are bad that day - no, we were really good in those games - but over 90 minutes each time, before the penalties [in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals], we never won, so Chelsea are incredibly strong."

As Klopp highlighted, Liverpool required a penalty shootout to overcome Chelsea in the finals of the Carabao and FA Cups in February and May respectively. The German also drew attention to the rest of the chasing pack, suggesting the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United may close the gap to his side and City.

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"You have to look at Tottenham, and what they are doing at the moment. They didn't get worse this year," Klopp added. "Arsenal are still there, Man United with a new start, all these kind of things.

"It's always the same and we changed a little bit - not too much, but a bit. City changed maybe more, I don't know, but we will see in the next few weeks. But that's how it is. The basis has to be right, and it is right for us and from there, we can go.

"I'm not interested in the points we had last year, I'm only interested in what we can get this season, but I am positive, really optimistic, but I'm not sure, so we will have to fight and see what the outcome is."