We want to fight for Euro crown and league title, maintains Klopp

Double aim: Jurgen Klopp doesn’t want tunnel vision

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp refuses to entertain the thought that a Champions League exit will enhance their bid for a first domestic title in 30 years.

The Reds currently top the Premier League by eight points from Leicester and a massive 14 points from defending champions Manchester City.

However, their European crown could be under threat against Red Bull Salzburg tonight and, if they do not secure a point in Austria, they will face the prospect of dropping into the Europa League.

There is an argument, should that happen, that Klopp could then write off the competition and play a second-string side in order to concentrate on the Premier League.

“Can we go out of the Champions League and Europa League?” Klopp said, pointing out an exit from the Champions League would not rid them of European football. When it was suggested he could field a team of youngsters in the Europa League, he added: “Ahh! In the last-32, or 64. Whatever? Yeah, interesting.

“So, we are not part of these thoughts. We are really ambitious in that tournament.

“So yeah, we want to go until the end again — we have nothing better to do in the middle of May or whenever the final is played.

“That was cool (last season) and we want to do it again. Absolutely nothing else is on our mind. But we know (it is) step by step. Tomorrow is really difficult and we have to be ready for that.”

An injury scare to Dejan Lovren at Bournemouth on Saturday threatened to leave Klopp with just two fit central defenders in Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, but the Croatia international has been passed fit and travelled with the squad.

“How can you be short of centre-halves when you have four centre-halves plus Fabinho? Fabinho is injured, Joel Matip is injured and Dejan Lovren had a problem,” he said. “But Lovren is not injured. It was a little bit of cramp.”