Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he is supporting Lazio in the race to win Serie A this season due to his affection for former Liverpool player Lucas Leiva.
The title race in Italy is certainly a lot closer than it is in England this year, with just three points separating the top three.
Maurizio Sarri's Juventus currently sit at the top on 57 points, with Lazio just a point behind them on 56 and Antonio Conte's Inter Milan on 54, with all three having played 24 games.
Lucas, who spent 10 years at Anfield before moving to Lazio in 2017, is a key man for the Rome-based club, and Klopp said the fact both he and his former striker at Dortmund Ciro Immobile play for Lazio mean they are who he is hoping top the tree at the end of the season.
"I am cheering for Lazio to win the title," Klopp said. "We have a former Liverpool player in the title race, that is Lucas Leiva.
"Ciro Immobile was also one of my players at Borussia Dortmund. I'm sorry for Maurizio Sarri and Antonio Conte, but I think Lazio will be a great surprise. They are having an incredible season."
Klopp recently named Juventus as his favourites to win the Champions League, saying: "Juventus were my favourites before the season started but obviously I don’t watch Italian football enough because I cannot work out why they are not 10 points ahead at the top of Serie A.
"They have the biggest squad I have ever seen in my life; quality players too, it’s crazy."
Sarri did not appear too impressed by the comments, however, replying: "Jurgen also said that he doesn't watch much Italian football, so that explains his confusion!
"Jurgen is one of the smartest and funniest people I've ever known and what he's doing here is shaking off the burden of being the favourites."
