Jurgen Klopp challenges Liverpool players to write a new chapter in club’s illustrious European history

Jurgen Klopp has challenged his Liverpool players to write a new chapter in the club’s illustrious history ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter final against Manchester City.

Klopp is hoping to add a sixth European Cup to Anfield’s trophy cabinet, even though they must overcome one of the favourites for the competition in order to reach the semi-finals.

The Liverpool manager recognises Pep Guardiola’s City as “probably the best” team in European football at the moment, though will be confident following victory the last time these two sides met, with a 4-3 Premier League win at Anfield three months ago.

Even if Liverpool end the season empty-handed, that victory will be long remembered at Anfield and Klopp wants his players to make more memories during his reign.

“This club is already full of history and we have to write our own,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

“I meet people who tell me which goal Liverpool scored 37 years ago, in the 56th minute, the 10 players who did that, they can say the names.

“This team needs to be proud of our history but we need to create our own history. I did that a lot in the past with my former teams: at one point you need to do your own things. The boys are ready and are really looking forward to it.”

If Liverpool can get past City, Klopp believes they will have overcome the strongest team left in the competition.

“City is probably the best,” he said. “I know much more about City than I do about Barcelona or Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich this year because I watch them more often this season, and for me they play the best season of all these teams.

“What they do, they do at the highest level. They play football, they have a specific way of playing and that makes it all difficult, but we still know there's a chance, it is possible to defend it.”

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Klopp added: “If you are brave, if you are ready to make mistakes, if you are ready to enjoy the work and your attitude is at the highest level, if your character is at the highest level, then you have a chance. And that's the only thing I need.”

If there is to be a memorable Anfield night under the lights on Wednesday, it will be without Joel Matip, who will miss the remainder of the season with a thigh injury.

Ragnar Klavan, meanwhile, is unavailable as he struggles to recover in time from a minor knock. Joe Gomez is out with ankle injury sustained while on international duty, while Emre Can, who has previously deputised in defence, is also sidelined.

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It all means that Klopp will have just two fit centre-backs - Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk - at his disposal and the Liverpool manager joked that if there was a centre-half present at Tuesday’s press conference he should make himself known.

“Let's hope nothing else happens,” he added. “I'm not surprised, I've known since Sunday, but it doesn't make it easy. It's no problem for the starting line-up providing nothing else happens but of course there are not a lot of options for an intense time.”

Adam Lallana will play no part either having ended Saturday’s late win at Crystal Palace on crutches.

The England international now faces a race against time to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for this summer’s World Cup in Russia, though Klopp believes Lallana will make a return before the end of the season.

“Could have been worse but bad enough,” he said of the 29-year-old’s hamstring injury. “It means he is not available for the next weeks but don’t want to finish the season for him. With a few weeks to go, there’s a chance he could be back.”