CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL? WHY NOT?!
JURGEN KLOPP says Liverpool want to reach the Champions League final for a third consecutive year – because they have nothing better to do at the end of May.
The Reds boss insisted there are no thoughts of a tame early exit from the competition, as they face FC Salzburg tonight needing a point to guarantee reaching the knockout stages.
Defeat here in Austria would drop his side down to the Europa League, should Napoli beat Genk.
And many have suggested that outcome would help their quest to end a 30-year quest for the title.
He could rest players in the Europa League, but Klopp laughed as arrived at the Red Bull Arena and said last night: “So we are not part of these thoughts obviously.
“We are really ambitious in this tournament... no really.
“So yeah, actually we want to go until the end again – we have nothing better to do at the end of May or whenever the final is played. It was cool, and we want to do it again. Absolutely nothing else on our mind.
“But we know, step by step, this is really difficult and we have to be ready for that.”
Salzburg shocked Klopp’s men at Anfield, incredibly clawing back a three-goal deficit to level at 3-3 before Mo Salah claimed victory.
And Klopp (below) says the task is simple – his team have to ensure the Austrians know they are playing a side of the quality and stature of Liverpool.
“We have to make Salzburg realise – after all their positive things – bang, it’s difficult, it’s
Liverpool,” he said.
“It should not be easy and we have to make sure it is not easy.
“Everybody knows this is a final.
“What we have to show is that we are really ambitious, I am not in doubt about that.
“We are still ambitious like crazy, we will go for everything, we will run for our lives - that’s what we are, plus playing football. We will fight in each challenge, 100 per cent.
“It’s just a football game, but against us it must be different to all other games.”
Klopp confirmed Dejan Lovren is fit for the game tonight – and he also insisted he will not buy a centre-half in January, despite Joel Matip struggling, and Fabinho also sidelined.
“We will not sign a centre-half because of injuries – that is the world outside who thinks we are short and we have to do it,” he added.
“But afterwards we would have six centre-halves and that wouldn’t make a lot of sense.
“Yes absolutely, I am concerned, but Lovren is not injured.”