KLOPP ADMITS FRESH EURO BID DOOMED
JURGEN KLOPP admits it is “almost impossible” for his Liverpool side to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The boss also blamed “insane mistakes” for their defence of the Premier League title crumbling.
Liverpool are currently sixth in the table just five points off fourth-placed Chelsea with West Ham also ahead of them.
But Klopp, in an interview with Germany legend Lothar Matthaus, said: “I like to be an optimist but in the league it is almost impossible to qualify in the competition for the places that we have.
“At Tottenham, Gareth Bale is now playing again and they are also in the running. Plus City and Manchester United, who are far away. Chelsea is on the rise.
“Reaching Champions League qualification through the league will be difficult, we know that.
“You don’t usually win the Champions League itself in a year with injury worries as big as we have, you know that Lothar.”
Liverpool’s season has been wrecked by injuries to key players such as Virgil van Dijk. But they have lost six games in a row at Anfield which has left them battling for the top four rather than defending their title.
Klopp said: “Opponents usually don’t need a lot of chances against us because we make big mistakes, insane ones that can almost be described as slapstick.
“On the other hand, we create a lot of chances, in the ‘expected goals’ we are still second behind City in the Premier League but far from them in the ones we actually scored.
“This problem has been throughout the season.”
Klopp also appears concerned about the financial damage missing out on Champions League football will do.
He added: “It would mean a huge financial loss.
“Otherwise not that much. I am aware that in almost all football clubs in the world, I would be questioned in a situation like our current one.
“This is completely normal, reality, the business we are in.
“I would accept that immediately but it’s different here in Liverpool.
“Our owners, the sports director, even the players – nobody doubts anyone at this club.
“We have accepted the situation for ourselves and will fight through it.”