Jurgen Klopp makes Community Shield claim and fires warning to Manchester City

Premier League winners Manchester City and Champions League winners Liverpool will meet in the FA Community shield on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. Ahead of the game, the Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that his side cannot afford a heavy defeat from Manchester City. “If we win it, good. Will it have an influence on the season? I don’t think so," said Klopp. “If we don't win it, not good. Will it have an influence on the season. No, again, I don’t think so. I don’t think we can expect to play our best game of the season on Sunday. That’s how it is with pre-season. “But it’s about winning a football game, hopefully we’ll find a way to do that. We play against City – the most difficult game of every season . You have to be ready. It’s a good test of the things that are there. “We have to defend in a good way because if you don’t defend well against City we can get a proper knock.” Liverpool suffered a 3-0 defeat from Napoli during a friendly game and that was the Reds' third defeat in pre-season games. “We played without six players and to say this must be the statement for us would be completely mad," continued Klopp. “We have to be as good as possible on that day. I cannot change that, I cannot lie to the people. No problem making pre-season without six players, we have to do it. “We have to travel, play in America, difficult circumstances, but that’s how it is. But had we the best pre-season of our lives, I cannot say that. “You see that in results, but the sessions were really good. The games, from a freshness point of view, came in the wrong moment. But we cannot change that. We have to do what we have to do. “The only problem is we have to do all the games in public so everyone sees what we are doing. Some people get concerns, some don’t. It’s all okay. “We have to prove ourselves during the season, not in one game. But if I have to say this would be the statement for the season, I would be really mad.” via LiverpoolECHO

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