Jurgen Klopp still believes Manchester United are a "top-class" team after discussing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side's role in the Premier League title race.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and West Ham currently make up the top four with the Reds three points off the Champions League places as they sit eight points off the league leaders.
United finished 12 points behind eventual Premier League winners, City, last season as they face Pep Guardiola's side in the first Manchester derby of the season.
The German head coach has already inflicted damage on Solskjaer's side this season after running riot in a 5-0 win at Old Trafford, but he hasn't ruled out the quality from elsewhere in the division.
A win on Saturday would see United overtake rivals Manchester City and West Ham - at least until the outcome of Liverpool's visit to the Hammers has been decided in the late kick-off on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of their trip to East London, Klopp discussed the 'three-horse race' for the Premier League title, he said: "I'm not sure. We don't consider ourselves in that way - we want to be in it, but whatever role we have I don't care.
"With our quality we should be in and around the top of the table. That's where we are, that's where we have to be, that's the responsibility we have and that's how we see it ourselves.
"We don't have to talk too much about quality of [Manchester] City and we don't have to talk too much about the quality and depth of Chelsea. We are not too bad a team as well. So that's cool.
"There are so many other good teams in the league, I think the league made a big jump again.
"We play West Ham [this weekend], West Ham is incredibly strong, Brighton is incredibly strong, not just against us but City as well, Tottenham is now almost 100 per cent coming back, Arsenal are in a better moment, [Manchester] United is obviously a top-class team, Leicester is there.
"So the league is absolutely incredible there's no game at all anymore you can go and rest him, him or him, that's not possible. You have to be on top constantly and that makes it the best league in the world for sure. It's really exciting to be a part of."
Manchester United will be without Raphael Varane for the visit of their rivals with Victor Lindelof doubtful after missing Tuesday's draw with Atalanta.
Pep Guardiola's side go into the clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend and will be looking to pick up their first win at Old Trafford in the Premier League since 2019.
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