Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has played down Liverpool’s spending this summer, saying he is not judging the business Klopp’s team has made so far this summer.

Liverpool have signed four players this summer in Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alisson and Fabinho, taking their total expenditure for the summer to just short of £170m.

The Reds have been criticised by many for their vast amounts of spending, not least by United manager Jose Mourinho, who has labelled Klopp’s change in transfer policy as ‘funny’.

But Guardiola has taken a different stance on the matter, refusing to criticise Klopp and instead saying that it is natural for him to want to add key players to the squad.

“Every club does what they believe. I understand the money completely,” said Guardiola in a pre-match press conference.

“Liverpool believe they need these players and spend this money so I’m not judging what they’re doing. If they decide that then it’s perfect for them. I don’t like when my colleagues talk about me.

“We increased the level of the Premier League and that means the other ones want to do better and better. Always Liverpool is a contender with the history they have. We’ll see on the pitch.”

City have only made one marquee signing this summer, in the shape of Riyad Mahrez who arrived from Leicester City for £60m.