Liverpool may be a shoo-in for the title, but they are not about to start on an era of all-conquering dominance.
That is the message from Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who insisted the landscape in English football has changed completely, from the days when Sunday’s opponents Manchester United reigned supreme in the Premier League.
Klopp is a huge admirer of Old Trafford legend Sir Alex Ferguson, but he doesn’t feel he can replicate the incredible record of the great manager.
“To be honest, I don’t think it is possible to get to their level of dominance ever again,” Klopp explained.
“It is now more likely that the other clubs will compete for different things because of the financial power of a lot of teams.
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“This kind of up and down changes of the squad (we see now) means a dominance like Liverpool and United had before is unlikely.”
Ferguson won an incredible 13 league titles with United, and an unmatched 28 major trophies.
Klopp has just one Champions League triumph with the Reds so far, but are overwhelming favourites to add the Premier League to his haul, with a young side he believes can only get better.
With the money available to his rivals though, sides like United, Manchester City and Chelsea can spend big in the summer to close the gap that has opened up this season.
And the Anfield manager also believes there is strength below the powerful top six, which makes controlling the league so hard.
“We have made a few good decisions and that is why we have got better and our players are getting better, that is why we are coming up,” he added.
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“But I say a team like Leicester has proper power now too with the typical top six and it makes it even more difficult.
“I wouldn’t say United in their time won a lot of games 4-0 or 5-0 but they were predictable wins, and that is clear. We won a lot of games 1-0 or 2-1 and had to really dig in properly to do so, so I don’t see this type of thing.
“But it is important that we can fight every year for it and that is all I need.”
Klopp revealed that he has both Fabinho and Joel Matip back for the visit of United, while Dejan Lovren will return to full training on Monday.
