Borussia Dortmund vs. Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's Key Pre-Match Presser Quotes

Jurgen Klopp may hold some allegiances with former club Borussia Dortmund, but the Liverpool manager has emphasised he won't be celebrating if the Germans score in Thursday's UEFA Europa League quarter-final first-leg tie against his side.

The former Black and Yellows chief enjoyed seven successful years at Signal Iduna Park and makes his return to North Rhine-Westphalia this week.

Speaking to the media ahead of Thursday's reunion, Klopp made certain to assure Reds fans his loyalties lie with them, however, per the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce:

Liverpool aren't the first Premier League outfit Dortmund have set in their sights in the competition this season, and the Merseysiders are looking to avoid the kind of embarrassment that saw Tottenham Hotspur fall to a 5-1 aggregate defeat in the round of 16.

Manager Thomas Tuchel's side are currently enjoying a 20-match unbeaten streak, and while Klopp is far from unaware of that bright patch in form, he also refused to rule his side out of the running on Thursday:

According to Pearce, Klopp described Dortmund's method of playing as "courageous and aggressive," a tactic he also highlighted as "cool," and one that's paying dividends considering they're yet to lose in 2016.

Klopp's inside knowledge of everything Dortmund could be seen as the defining factor if Liverpool were to take an advantage, but he suggested the analysis may not be that in-depth, per the Press Association's Carl Markham:

Almost conversely to Dortmund's form, Liverpool are without a win in three and return from the international break hoping the final seven weeks or so of this season will see them go on a fine run both in Europe and domestically.

Despite Dortmund's intimidating streak, which includes five successive wins prior to Thursday's collision, Klopp said his players are "prepared" for the round-of-16 first leg, according to Markham.

Always the kind to look on the bright side of matters, the Liverpool boss lightened the mood by using North Korea as a point of juxtaposition, insisting his team could be in worse predicaments:

Still, Merseysiders may fear for their Europa League future all the same and hope Klopp has the nous needed to clinch victory at Signal Iduna Park on his first trip back to his old club since departing last year.

A first-leg result would set the Reds up for a climactic curtain call at Anfield, but preventing the Dortmund juggernaut from getting up to speed in Germany on Thursday will be a mountainous task in itself.