Real shot in the arm for Wijnaldum

GINI WIJNALDUM says Liverpool have been given the confidence to deliver a top-four finish.

The Reds crashed out of the Champions League in midweek despite a vastly improved performance in the second leg against a Real Madrid side they at times ran ragged.

But in doing so, the midfielder believes his team-mates at least showed the fight and desire required to win their remaining Premier League games and qualify for Europe’s elite club competition next season.

“Everything was there, a good performance, position play, counter-press, chances,” said Wijnaldum (inset).

“But one thing not there was the goals.

“So for sure, that will give us hope. That’s what we have to do – stay confident and work hard to still try to bring this season to a good end. I think for us it will bring more confidence.”

Liverpool lie three points behind fourth-placed West Ham in the final Champions League place.

They have seven games remaining to leapfrog the Hammers and Chelsea, who are ahead of them in fifth, in a run-in which begins with a tricky visit to Leeds on Monday.

For Wijnaldum, it was a case of what might have been in the Champions League.

He added: “It was frustrating because we gave it all but had no luck to finish it.

“I think the biggest regret we have is that we gave away the first leg.

“The goals we gave away there, that makes it even harder to do the job.

“That’s the Champions League, when you play the way we played there (in Madrid) you get punished.”