Klopp’s top four bid down to wire
to be ready. But I think we deserve to finish top four – absolutely, 100 per cent,” he said.
“We have to make the last step. If we don’t do it and Chelsea get the spot, then they deserve it. It is as simple as that. Chelsea made five or six changes in midweek. That would not be possible for us, even if we thought about it. These boys have had to fight for each yard, the last six or seven weeks, pretty much the same group.
“That is the situation. I really think they deserve it but P W D Man City (C) ............. 37 31 4 Man Utd ................... 37 24 6 Tottenham ............... 37 22 8 Liverpool .................. 37 20 12 Chelsea .................... 37 21 7 Arsenal .................... 37 18 6 Burnley .................... 37 14 12 Everton .................... 37 13 10 Leicester .................. 37 12 11 Newcastle ................ 37 11 8 Crystal Palace .......... 37 10 11 Bournemouth ............ 37 10 11 Watford ................... 37 11 8 Brighton ................... 37 9 13 West Ham ................ 37 9 12 Huddersfield ............. 37 9 10 Southampton ............ 37 7 15 Swansea ................... 37 8 9 West Brom (R) .......... 37 6 13 Stoke (R) .................. 37 6 12 we have to make the final step ourselves because nobody will probably help us.”
For all that Klopp was keen to compartmentalise the Champions League assignment in Kiev in a drawer for ‘future tasks’ while he concentrates on Brighton, he accepted he is pushing against the tide. Liverpool had their end-ofseason awards night on Thursday at Anfield. Klopp smiled thinly when describing its position in the calendar as “good timing”.
“A lot of people have wished me luck for the 26th [in Kiev] while maybe two or three people said good luck for Sunday,” he said.
“That’s the next challenge. It’s a big one. There are many moments where people can be happy or proud of this team, this club, but on Sunday we all have to deliver again, all of us.
“It’s not a farewell thing on Sunday, it’s a proper competition against a good football team.”