Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says there are few managers who could have done a better job at the club than him.
Klopp has yet to win major silverware two years after being appointed following Brendan Rodgers’ sacking.
Defeat by Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday will leave the Reds on 12 points from eight games – the same tally as when Rodgers was dismissed.
“I don’t think I am perfect but it’s quite difficult to find better options,” said Klopp, 50.
Liverpool have won only once in their past seven games in all competitions and are seventh in the Premier League, seven points behind both Manchester clubs.
They are out of the Carabao Cup and remain without a win from two games in the Champions League.
Klopp said: “If they sack me now, I don’t think there would be a lot of managers who would do the job better than I do.
“There’s not the biggest distance between us and the top teams.
“If I came in today as the new manager and if everybody would give us this kind of time to take the next step, that would be perfect.”
Kenny Dalglish, one of Klopp’s predecessors, agrees with the German that patience is required.
“If you buy well enough then you can compete,” said Dalglish, who won the title three times in charge of Liverpool between 1985 and 1991. “You don’t have to do it in one transfer window, it may take four or five.
“I think it is society. People are used to instant solutions but it doesn’t work in football.
“A bit of patience doesn’t go amiss for anyone who wants to be successful.”
United manager Jose Mourinho says it “will be beautiful” to take his side to Anfield, despite expecting an atmosphere of “animosity”.
The Red Devils would go 10 points ahead of their rivals with victory on Saturday, while Liverpool will hope to win at home for the first time since August.
“We know that the fans have huge animosity against us historically, but this is what we want,” Mourinho said.
“I never see a player complain: ‘Oh, this atmosphere was very strong.'”