Jurgen Klopp admitted he expected Manchester City to beat Manchester United in the derby on Wednesday night.
Liverpool were hoping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side could do them a favour in the Premier League title race by beating their fierce rivals at Old Trafford but Pep Guardiola's side proved to be too much for United.
Second half goals from Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane secured the three points for City to send them a point clear of Liverpool at the top of the table with just three games left of the season.
And while Klopp would have been hoping United could do his side a favour and stop City, he admitted it was the result he expected.
"It was really the result I expected," the Liverpool manager said in his pre-Huddersfield press conference.
“United tried whatever they can, in the first half especially, but in the 95 minutes it was clear they can’t stand City in the moment. They were unlucky in moments but then they couldn’t stand City.”
Guardiola said after the derby that both Liverpool and City deserve to win the title this season and whoever finishes second will hold the record for the highest ever points recorded for a team that finishes second.
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"Yes, but it will not happen," Klopp said in response to Guardiola's comments. "We will be there at the end. We don’t only play for being champion at the end of the season. Yes it’s a big target and we are pretty close and have a chance.
“But it’s the first time, not the last time. That’s how it is. The club and the people are waiting for a long time for it. It is rather surprising because last season we were 25 points behind.
“That’s really good, that’s all I can say about it. It’s all good. We have to carry on but only one team will be champion.”
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