Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace: Key Comments from Jurgen Klopp's Pre-Match Presser

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed the notion his club's midweek trip to Russia to face Rubin Kazan in the Europa League will give Crystal Palace an advantage in their upcoming Premier League clash, while Philippe Coutinho is likely to start for the Reds.

Klopp and company only landed back in England on Friday, two days before meeting the Eagles, but the German thinks that will only be an advantage for the visitors if the Reds allow it to be, per the club's official Twitter account:

Liverpool fielded a strong team against Rubin Kazan in their 1-0 win, with Coutinho being the only automatic starter who didn't make an appearance. While many coaches would have given their stars some rest given the length of the trip, Klopp has elected not to dismiss the Europa League as a secondary competition and plans to keep using his best players on all fronts.

He also refuses to use tiredness as an excuse:

While he refused to make any definitive statements on whether Coutinho and Adam Lallana would start, Klopp made it sound like the duo will be fit to play:

Sunday's match will be a key one for the Reds as the Eagles have been something of a nightmare opponent for Liverpool in the past few years. There was the infamous 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park in 2014, which sunk the Reds' title chances, and since then, Crystal Palace have won every meeting with the Reds.

Klopp knows the Eagles present a unique challenge for his team, but he's positive the Reds can obtain a result:

Despite the long flight back from Russia, Klopp seemed to be in high spirits, making plenty of jokes with the reporters, something that is quickly becoming customary. As shared by Liverpool FC News, he made it clear the flight didn't bother him:

He also explained how his players have no say in whether they are hugged after a match or not, via Goal UK's Melissa Reddy:

Klopp even took the time to praise former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, telling reporters his strong work with the squad has made his job a little easier, via This Is Anfield:

The buzz surrounding Klopp's appointment as Liverpool manager still hasn't worn off, and after a strong start to his Anfield career, he now has a chance to exorcise some demons that have plagued the Reds for too long.

Crystal Palace have lost two of their last three but remain a formidable opponent who can match Liverpool for pace and ability on the counter, and they sit just one point behind the Reds in the standings.

But Sunday's match will be about so much more than three points. Beating the Eagles would be yet another clear signal that things have changed at Anfield and would hand the squad a tremendous morale boost heading into one of the busier parts of the schedule, with pivotal Europa League matches and the holiday period right around the corner.

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