Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool's vision of how the club should be run is more sustainable than Manchester City's template.
City have become the biggest spenders in the Premier League in recent seasons, splashing out almost £1bn in order to challenge for domestic and European honours.
The club won the title for the first time since 1968 two years ago, and have also secured the FA Cup and League Cup in recent seasons.
Liverpool have spent modestly by comparison, but have surprised many people this season by challenging City and Chelsea for the title.
City arrive at Anfield on Sunday in what could be a defining match for both teams, but Rodgers reckons Liverpool have already been rewarded for the way they have restructured the club.
Rodgers said: "This season, however it finishes, will be a great victory for the model that we've chosen to work here, which is about player development.
"Look at each individual player, looking at the players within our system, within our structure here at the academy and the club, looking at the senior players, how we can find ways to extend their careers to make them better players, and it's a model we're happy with and a model we feel will give us that sustainable success over a longer period.
"I won't disrespect what they've done because of where they were at - they've a lot of new money that's come into the club in order to gain success.
"And that money they've invested wisely in a lot of top players. In these recent couple of years it has won them the Premier League and the FA Cup, and the League Cup, so I'm sure their supporters won't be complaining.
"For us it's a different way of working. We're on a different road."
Meanwhile, ahead of the game against City, Rodgers insists that, far from being nervous, his side are looking forward to the occasion.
"It's a significant game, there is no doubt about that," he said.
"It's two teams who have done extremely well this season in their own different ways and it should be a fantastic game of football.
"We are really looking forward to it. The team is confident and it should be fantastic.
"We are enjoying it and the players are very focused. We are calm and the training this week has been outstanding, so there have certainly been no nerves.
"There is talk about pressure and different types of words to describe it but, for us, it is exciting. We are really enjoying where we are.
"It is not by accident. Over the last 20 months we have been building to arrive at what we have and we are looking to try and sustain that over a longer period."
However, while acknowledging the fixture's significance, Rodgers does not think the winners will have all-but clinched the Premier League.
"There is still a lot of work to do after this game," he said. "The finish line is still a way to go.
"For us, our focus is on the three points as, at the end of the day, that is all that comes out of the game.
"You will gain confidence, gain belief, but the three points is all we are after.
"There are five games to go and, even after this one, there are still 12 points to play for."
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