IF HE MISSES TOP FOUR
Dan can Sturr Southgate
against top-seven teams this term – 26 points in 12 unbeaten games against Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton.
But they dropped points against Hull and Sunderland – the teams relegated alongside Middlesbrough.
Liverpool, who lost in the finals of the League Cup and Europa League last season, must now prove they have guts to finish off the biggest challenge of Klopp’s 18-month reign.
The German has endured plenty of last-day dramas of his own during his time in charge of Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.
He said: “Have a look at my career. My seasons were always decided on the last match.
“I would like to change that, but obviously it has become a part of my life. So I am used to working until the last minute, being concentrated until the last minute. Most decisions are made in the last moment.
“The more you try, the bigger your desire is, and the more likely you will have these kind of finals. For me, it is kind of a normal situation.
“It’s all about us and this team showed me so often that they are really ready for situations like this. We have to show it again. It will be fine.” DANIEL STURRIDGE can stake his claim for an England recall today. Sturridge, 27, (right) is set to keep his Liverpool place against Middlesbrough after marking his first Premier League start since the turn of the year with a goal in the 4-0 rout of West Ham. England manager Gareth Southgate will be at Anfield to see if the striker can finish another injury-ravaged season by helping his club secure a top-four place. England face Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park on June 10 before meeting France in a friendly three days later.