London: Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has cracked a joke on his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho ahead of their English Premier League (EPL) clash saying that the latter is a nice guy as long as you are not a journalist or a referee.

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Klopp’s team will face Chelsea on Saturday in an EPL (EPL) encounter with the German manager facing his first real test.

"I'm full of respect for his (Mourinho) work. If you're not a referee or a journalist he can be a nice guy," Klopp was quoted as saying by goal.com.

"During the game we are both emotional but we are professionals, everything is fine between us. When I was in Germany, Mourinho and I sometimes sent messages. I have respect for his work. He's a nice guy," he said.

Klopp, who recently quit as the Borussia Dortmund coach, said the tie has some great history but presently his focus will be on how to win the contest and they would not think too much of the opponent.

"In history, it was a great game. Now it’s ninth versus 15th and we have a chance to improve our own situation and not think too much of the opponent. It is a big match but I have been in this job for 15 years and had plenty of big matches," he said.

"It is a match we can win, like any other, and that's all I think about."