Jurgen Klopp keen to avoid neutral venue for Liverpool's trip to Manchester City

Jurgen Klopp is hopeful that Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League visit to Manchester City won’t need to be played at a neutral venue.

A Safety Advisory Group comprised of police, City officials, and supporters will meet on Thursday to decide whether the game will be able to go ahead at the Etihad Stadium.

Fears over Reds supporters gathering to celebrate a potential title win are believed to be behind the delay in confirmation over where the fixture might be held.

But Klopp has made clear that he would prefer to make the short journey down the East Lancs rather than have to juggle the tricky logistics of any alternative arrangement.

“Honestly, I would prefer it is at Manchester otherwise it would be really difficult to organise it,” he said.

“I don't know how it would be but it would not be in Liverpool so it would mean we both have to go somewhere where we both need a hotel. That is the only issue.

“Apart from that we play where they send us to but I would prefer it in Manchester but I don't know about the process, I wait until the final information is confirmed whether it is Manchester or not.

“It would be a challenge for both clubs.”

Similar discussions were held prior to Liverpool’s first game back following football’s three-month hiatus: Sunday’s clash with Everton at Goodison Park.

However, fears of mass gatherings were proven to be misplaced as the fixture was held at its original venue without any disorder taking place.

On that, Klopp added: “Maybe I don't know enough about the history of English football to be concerned about the City game against us but the City stadium is pretty well located to close it down if someone was there close to the stadium but I don't see that.

“The whole period we are in showed the massive majority of people really behaved responsibly and seriously and take this situation as it is: the discipline level is probably as high as never before so I was not worried about that.

“I know football fans since I was five years old and 98 per cent of them are completely fine and have the same view on life as I have and love similar things that I do.

“At this moment in time I was not worried about that but maybe I don't know enough about it when we go there (to City) but Sunday was a good example, 100 per cent.”