Despite Liverpool's resurgence and their return to the top of the Premier League table, manager Jurgen Klopp remains unfazed by their newfound status as favourites for the title.
Sunday's victory over Brighton, coupled with Manchester City's draw against Arsenal, has put the Reds in a favorable position with nine matches left to play.
However, Klopp is keen to keep his team grounded ahead of their upcoming fixture against Sheffield United, who currently sit at the bottom of the table. "The situation revolves around Sheffield United for us, not who the pundits favour," Klopp emphasised in a pre-match press conference.
Reflecting on past experiences, Klopp stressed the importance of maintaining focus amidst the fluctuating external pressures.
"One of the most crucial aspects during this period is to block out the noise from the outside world, which can be quite tumultuous," the German coach remarked. "We must remain professional, channel our emotions in the right direction, and strive to showcase the best version of ourselves on the pitch."
Despite key matchups between other title contenders happening midweek, Klopp revealed he has no intention of watching those games.
Drawing from a lesson learned, he mentioned a past occasion where his desired outcome didn't materialize, and since then, he has refrained from getting emotionally invested in other teams' matches.
As for the encounter with Sheffield United, Klopp stressed the importance of respecting every opponent, regardless of their position in the league table. "We need to secure our points, focus on winning our games," he stated firmly.
Looking ahead, Klopp refused to be drawn into discussions about the upcoming clash against Manchester United, emphasising that Sheffield United deserved their full attention. "Speculating about Manchester United would be disrespectful to Sheffield United," Klopp asserted. "Every team merits our respect, and that's exactly what we'll give them."
