Jurgen Klopp says Manchester City deserve their nine point lead over Liverpool in the Premier League as he challenged his side to claw the gap back over the next five months.
Klopp has seen Liverpool battle with Covid-19 cases and injuries in recent weeks, and they have dropped five points in the last two games, as well as seeing their fixture with Leeds postponed.
That, coupled with three City wins, has seen Liverpool drop to nine points adrift of City with a game in hand, and they next face second-placed Chelsea on Sunday.
Explaining the quick change in what appeared to be a close title race until a fortnight ago, Klopp admitted City's consistency and good injury record has given them their current advantage.
He said: "The situation when you have this kind of close fight, especially with an incredibly consistent team like City. It looks like they are not even a little bit fazed by covid or injuries. They are in a good moment, it's just how it is."
However, Klopp insisted the league is still open for Liverpool and Chelsea to win as long as they keep in touch with City in the coming months.
"You cannot win the league properly in the winter," he said.
"It's unlikely but what City have now is a gap, they absolutely deserve it, but let's just give it a go and play on. At the end of the season only one team can be champion, someone has to be second and third.
"A decisive moment in April, then you have to be close enough to give it a proper go. We will see where we are then. From now to then oh my god, so many games to play, so many different competitions to play.
"I have to make sure we always have enough players ready to fight and compete."
Confirming Liverpool have suffered three more positive Covid cases in their squad, Klopp looked ahead to their showdown with Chelsea this weekend and said his side must start winning again regardless of who they are facing.
He explained: "The only chance to catch anyone is to win football games. It's not so easy as we play Chelsea a proper football team and might have similar issues as we have. You don't win at Stamford Bridge with an average performance."
We’ve teamed up with LiveScore to invite fans to vote for their favourite results - the games which were much more than a score. Vote for the match that mattered to you here .
