BOTTOM FEEDERS NOT THE BANE OF MY LIFE, SAYS BULLISH KLOPP

JURGEN KLOPP has argued that it is unfair to claim Liverpool are chokers against the Premier League’s lower orders.

Klopp’s side will secure Champions League qualification if they win their final three Premier League matches, starting at home to Southampton today.

On the face of it, they would appear wellplaced to do that, given that Claude Puel’s side have nothing to play for, and that there then follow matches against West Ham, who have underachieved this season, and Middlesbrough, who are destined for relegation.

Yet Liverpool have developed a reputation for struggling against teams lower down the table this season.

They may be unbeaten against the top eight, and with a win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to their name, but they have also been defeated by Swansea, Hull, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Leicester and Bournemouth. Yet Klopp is of the view that the reputation for failing in games when favourites is undeserved.

He accepts that a surprising home defeat by Crystal Palace two weeks ago was a significant setback, yet it came amid wins over Stoke, West Brom and Watford.

He said: ‘Is there ever a moment when you are good enough in these games?

‘We have won three of them and lost one of them and still we have the image that we lost all of them.

‘If you play Manchester City, and you lose a challenge, or you create a chance and don’t score, it’s not that negative.

‘Against Crystal Palace, if you create a chance but don’t score, it’s like the end of the world: “Oh my God! Again like this!”

‘No team has this image like we have: That we win against the top teams but we lose against them the lesser sides.

‘We have this image and yet we have 69 points and we are in the top four.’