Jurgen Klopp on Manchester City's Champions League ban and Liverpool's Norwich win
Jurgen Klopp feels sorry for rival manager Pep Guardiola and his players following Manchester City's ban from the Champions League.
The Premier League champions have been hit with a two-year suspension from European competition by governing body UEFA after being found guilty of Financial Fair Play rule breaches.
The club are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but, as things stand, City will play only in domestic football in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Liverpool boss Klopp, whose side look set to succeed City as domestic champions this season, feels that is a shame.
The German said: "It was a shock when I heard it. I have no idea how these things work - what I can say is Manchester City under Pep Guardiola play sensational football. I've always admired what they do.
"In this moment I imagine it's very hard for them.
"To be honest I feel for Pep and the players because, wow, they did, for sure, nothing wrong. They just played football and sensational football.
"Pep helped the league to improve football."
Former City midfielder Joey Barton feels sad for English football that City will not be involved in the elite competition.
The Fleetwood manager said: "I don't like the thought of seeing City not in the Champions League.
"They are one of the best sides in our country, so it's a strange one because when that size of a club, with that level of a manager and players... you have to be in Europe's major competition.
"For English football you want your best teams in that competition."
Klopp was speaking after Liverpool kept their title parade moving forward with a hard-fought win at Norwich, where Sadio Mane scored the only goal of the game.
Senegal attacker Mane climbed off the bench to prod home and seal Liverpool's 17th straight Premier League win in a scrappy affair at Carrow Road.
The wind and rain of Storm Dennis spoiled any chance of attractive football, and the Reds rode their luck en route to yet another league win.
Klopp's men are now just one win away from matching Manchester City's Premier League record run of 18 consecutive victories.
The Reds will now make the trip to Atletico Madrid for Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first-leg clash, with Klopp tipping Mane to be ready to star again in Spain.
"It helps when you have such quality on the bench to bring on," said Klopp.
"Yes Sadio could have started today of course but I want to have a free decision for Tuesday.
"You don't think they should play two games in such quick succession.
"The quality of the others is just too big that you have to push somebody through.
"It was perfect for Sadio to have a few minutes but it looked like he was ready, yes."
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