Klopp: Don’t blow it at last hurdle
JURGEN KLOPP has urged Liverpool’s players to hold their nerve and show why they are the team most deserving of the final Champions League place. Having looked sure of a top-four spot, Liverpool have laboured at the worst possible time and they find themselves in the same position as 12 months ago, in needing a result on the final day of the campaign. The pressure is marginally reduced compared to when Middlesbrough arrived at Anfield last May — Liverpool only need to avoid defeat against Brighton to deny Chelsea the final qualification place. But Klopp expects the tension to be similar given what is at stake. Liverpool’s main aim at the start of the season was to secure back-to-back Champions League qualifications for the first time in a decade and Klopp has banned all talk of the final against Real Madrid to ensure the most important job is completed first. ‘I think we deserve it but we have to make the last step,’ said Klopp. ‘If we don’t do it and Chelsea get the spot then they deserve it. It is as simple as that. But over the whole season, what the boys did in the most difficult circumstances. ‘Chelsea made five or six changes in midweek. That would not be possible for us, even if we thought about it. These boys have had to fight for each yard, the last six or seven weeks, pretty much the same group. I really think they deserve it but we have to make the final step ourselves.’ Klopp added: ‘I would say without injuries we are already there. ‘Without the Champions League, we are already there. In the specific circumstances it would be massive. That’s the truth. ‘I have to think about Brighton and winning this game and making sure we play Champions League next year.’ Meanwhile, with Mohamed Salah three goals ahead of Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot, Klopp says the Egyptian will be allowed to take penalties ahead of James Milner to ensure he beats Kane. ‘They are both doing it pretty much constantly in training,’ said Klopp. ‘It is their decision but Mo is a pretty good shooter. He is a really good penalty-taker.’