Jurgen Klopp has played down talk of the Premier League title race but admits next weekend's trip to Manchester City is a 'big one'.
Liverpool saw off Watford at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Fabinho.
The victory temporarily moved Klopp's side to the top of the league table before City won 2-0 at Burnley to reclaim their place at the summit.
VERDICT: What Liverpool must do next in Man City battle clear as Jurgen Klopp proved right
REACTION: Jurgen Klopp makes 'surprise' admission after Liverpool win over Watford
Next up for the Reds is a midweek trip to Benfica in the Champions League before they make the shorter journey to the Etihad for the biggest match of the domestic season so far.
Klopp did not deny the significance of the showdown with City but was quick to point out that there are other games that also take importance.
“No, you can’t give an inch,” said the Liverpool boss following the win over Watford. “But it’s nothing to do with being on top of the table, I didn’t think about that at the moment, I was just happy to win the game and now having 72 points.
“To keep it a title race we have to win our football games, otherwise it will be really tricky. And the next Premier League game obviously is a big one, we do not hide from that. It’s all good.
“But now we have a Champions League game to play, which is just as important, and three days’ time to prepare for it. Then we go from there.”
Klopp went on to admit that the next few weeks will pose a tough test for his squad. The Reds are in three competitions this month and are battling to win all three of them before the campaign comes to a close.
“I really appreciate the situation we are in,” said Klopp. “I told the boys yesterday, the first time when we were all together, if somebody would have told us in the summer, in the really good pre-season which we had, that end of March, early April in the situation we are in – in all competitions, won one trophy and a full squad available, and hopefully this will stay forever – we all would have taken it, absolutely.
“The only better situation would have been – because in the cup competitions we couldn’t be further – is if we are 20 points ahead of City, but that’s not possible actually.
“It’s all fine like it is, so now enjoy the situation. We are not favourites in one of the competitions we are in, but who cares? We will give it a try.”
Klopp added: "[It’s] nothing to do with managing, it’s just I feel like this. It’s not that I pretend to be in the mood, I cannot change it. And the boys hopefully see it similar.
“It’s not managing the situation or the pressure or whatever. If people see the situation like pressure, not sure I can change that.
“If they see it as an opportunity, I think it’s the right way to do [it]. We created a basis, which we could use, but nobody knows. Because the opponents have their own targets and they really go for it.
YOUR SHOUT: Rate the Liverpool players after the 2-0 home win over Watford
“I know people said Watford is pretty much an easy game; we knew before, and we saw today, it’s not easy. Then probably people waved us already through to the semi-finals of the Champions League because Benfica are Benfica. I cannot see situations like this.
“Benfica are extremely strong, especially when you let them be. That’s what we have to think about now: how we can deny that. That’s it.”
