Reds ‘belong’ in Champions League, says Klopp

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was as delighted as the club’s success-starved fans after his side’s 3-0 win over Middlesbrough secured a top-four finish and a Champions League playoff spot on Sunday.

Brilliant strikes from Georginio Wijnaldum, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana guaranteed a place in next season’s qualification playoff as Klopp’s men overcame some early nerves to show their class on the last day of the season.

Liverpool’s fourth-placed finish is just the second time in eight seasons that they have made it into Europe’s elite competition and the ecstatic reception Klopp’s side received on the final whistle confirmed how much that means to the club’s ever-faithful fans.

Klopp — who turns 50 next month — was beaming with satisfaction afterwards and believes Liverpool are in an ideal position to kick on from here.

“Everything is good at this club at the moment,” said Klopp, who guided Borussia Dortmund to the 2013 final where they lost to domestic rivals Bayern Munich.

“It feels good. We deserve this position. We learned a lot this year about ourselves and we can use that. At the end of the season you are usually tired but I could start again tomorrow.

“We are all looking forward to what we can do. We can qualify in August so we are really looking forward to it. I’m very proud of the boys.

“There is nothing better, maybe in the world. For me, it’s the best competition and Liverpool needs to be there consistently, all the time, and I love the perspective.

“I don’t want to say we are already in — qualification is qualification — but we are really strong, we want to fight for it and be there.” AFP