Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is happy with his team’s start to the season, especially considering the difficult circumstances in which it is being played in.

A packed fixture schedule, combined with players going down with the virus, has made for a challenging first half of the campaign and Klopp thinks that will result in it being a very tight title race:

“This season is a tough one for the supporters. If you are a neutral you will love it. Our season so far is good but I’m not surprised it is this close. This year is tough. I am pretty sure it will go right to the wire. It is tough for all of us [challenging teams], which is the reason why it’s so close.”

Liverpool have already dropped as many points as they did in the whole of last season, meaning they go into tonight’s match against Southampton only level with Manchester United at the top of the table.

Manchester City’s win against Chelsea yesterday means Pep Guardiola’s side have moved within four points of the Reds, with a game in hand, while the likes of Leicester, Tottenham and Everton are all within touching distance of the top.

Klopp will be hoping to put a string of wins together to put some distance between Liverpool and the chasing pack over the coming weeks.