LET’S KOP A EURO SPOT Klopp warns stars to focus on beating Seagulls

RAFA BENITEZ admits he understands the “massive’’ pressure that Antonio Conte is under as Chelsea pray for a Champions League miracle.

Former Blues boss Benitez can today have a say in ending Chelsea’s slender hopes of a top-four finish.

The deposed Premier League champions must beat Benitez’s Newcastle at St James’ Park and cross their fingers that Brighton pull off an unlikely victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

Newcastle have their own agenda. After four successive single-goal- margin defeats, the Geordies are trying to cling on to 10th place. But the stakes were higher when Benitez – who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 – was in charge of Chelsea for six months in the 2012-13 season. And the Spaniard delivered as he secured a Champions League spot and won the Europa League. So how much pressure is there at Chelsea to reach the Champions League? “Massive,’’ said Benitez. “I had a conversation with Roman Abramovich and it was about what the priority was – the Champions League. When I went there, they were in a bad position and we finished third and won the Europa League.

“For him, it was massive to be in the Champions League.

“It’s massive money if you qualify. Also, when you have a good team like they have, you can progress, so the money is getting bigger and bigger.

“It’s not hard for them to attract players, it’s just that the clubs around them can compete.

“There are not too many good teams, so, if they play in the Champions League and pay the same wages or more than you, it’s more difficult.” JURGEN KLOPP has warned his Liverpool players that a season that might bring greatness could end in crisis.

The Kop boss has urged his team to get the result they need to guarantee a top-four finish when they face Brighton today.

And he has told them to forget about their impending date with destiny when they meet Real Madrid in the Champions League final in 13 days’ time.

Liverpool need just a point from today’s visit of Chris Hughton’s men at Anfield to ensure that they cannot be caught by Chelsea.

But the excitement is already building significantly ahead of the clash with Real in Kiev – and Klopp is wary.

He said: “I have not a lot of skills, but I am used to being fully concentrated on the next step – because otherwise, I have learned, you can fall on your face.

“I don’t do that very often. I have, as a manager, to prepare a few things, but I also have focus. We will have under two weeks to make our plans for the Champions League final.

“But what we really must do now is concentrate on our final Premier League game against Brighton. And I have no problem doing that.

“The whole season has been, so far, quite a joyride, but very intense as well.

“We are still in that frame of mind. It feels like we are still in the middle of the season.

“A lot of teams could go on holiday on Monday, but we are in a completely different mood.

“That’s how it is for us. If you want to be successful, you have to play the last game of the season.

“We will do that in the Champions League.

“It’s the situation that we have created, in a very, very good way.” Liverpool will finish the season with 75 points if they can beat the Seagulls – one less than they picked up last year. But Klopp (left) believes that reaching the Champions League final has clearly had a big impact on his team’s Premier League campaign.

He added: “We would have had more points if we weren’t in the Champions League. For sure, I feel that we have improved from last season. We have played a better season.

“Seventy-six is obviously a big number, but 75 would be a big number and 73 would also bring us to the Champions League, so that’s a big number as well.

“It’s not about comparing one season with another. I don’t think that’s possible.

“We have had much better games, outstandingly good games this season rather than last season.

“I’m fine so far with the season – but, of course, we have to make the last two steps.”