Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool are at the centre of a “circus” as he urged his players to ensure Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has misunderstood Sunday's blockbuster.
The European champions travel to Old Trafford a whopping 15 points ahead of their bitter North West rivals.
Liverpool have never before had such a lead over United during the Premier League era having also opened up an eight-point gap at the top of the table over Manchester City.
United's struggles have dominated the build-up with several pundits failing to name any of their players in a combined XI between teams.
And asked how he copes with the pressure of such titanic tussles, Klopp said: “Ignore it! This game is so easy, the game everyone around it plays.
“Sky made a combined line-up and had 11 Liverpool players. That’s like a joke, like building a banana skin.
“The world in the moment is a circus, and we are at the centre – a couple of people want us to win, a couple want us to lose.
“I’m not influenced by it.”
Liverpool are in the rare position of being odds-on to win for only the third time at Old Trafford since 2004.
And while mindful of some of the reasons for the Reds' poor record at the stadium, Klopp couldn't resist responding to comments from United counterpart Solskjaer that Liverpool were the perfect opponents this weekend.
“History in this case isn't really that important, but it gives you a little sign,” said the Reds boss.
“We like to create and use atmosphere in our stadium at Anfield which is incredibly helpful, but Old Trafford isn't too bad in that department.
“They for sure will on their toes, they are ready and waiting for us.
“They've said we are the perfect opponent.
“I don't think there are a lot of teams who would love to play against us at the moment, it looks like Man United are the only ones who want to play us.
“We have to make sure that is a misunderstanding, but it's normal.
“I would do exactly the same if the situation is the other way around. 'This is the game we can change the world” that's exactly how I would prepare it, so why shouldn't Ole do that?
“The history, the stats have nothing to do with that.”
