MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 16:06:14| >> :60:2283:2283:

Jurgen Klopp: 'CL qualification would be one of the biggest achievements ever'

Jurgen Klopp: 'CL qualification would be one of the biggest achievements ever'
© Reuters
The Reds must win their final two games, at Burnley on Wednesday and Crystal Palace at Anfield on the final day, to guarantee a top-four place.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists qualifying for the Champions League this season would be "one of the biggest achievements ever".

The Reds boss knows how his comments about last term's Premier League champions' current campaign will be greeted in some quarters, but is unwavering in his assertion securing a top-four spot would be "absolutely massive".

Injuries to his three centre-backs Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip left Klopp having to play a patched-up defence for most of the campaign but they were still top of the table at Christmas.

Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk is challenged by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
The loss of talismanic defender Virgil Van Dijk to a season-ending injury in October was the first of numerous problems (Laurence Griffiths/PA)

However, the loss of captain Jordan Henderson to groin surgery in February compounded matters and further knocks and niggles have kept their remaining key players out at important times.

A total of 10 players were absent for Sunday's dramatic last-gasp win at West Brom, courtesy of Alisson Becker becoming the first goalkeeper to score in the club's history, but those three points kept Champions League qualification in their own hands – a prospect which looked unlikely only a couple of weeks ago.

Asked how big playing in Europe's elite club competition would be next season, Klopp told Sky Sports: "Massive, absolutely massive. One of the biggest achievements ever.

"I know how that sounds, but it's the truth. Everybody here sees it like that, everybody.

"If you want to write a book about a season and you want to be depressed afterwards, then you'd probably take this season.

"You'd read it and think: 'Wow really, that happened? Then that happened?'

"Most of the things they don't ever get in public. It's just really we had a lot of things to deal with but here we are.

"This season has been really hard work for us, without always getting a reward.

"Whatever happened this year, it has given us the chance to hold our destiny in our own hands with two games (to go)."

After managing just three wins in 14 league matches since Christmas, Liverpool are top of the form table with 20 points from the last 24 available.

It means they head into their final two matches at Burnley on Wednesday and Crystal Palace at Anfield on the final day of the season knowing six points will get them over the line.

"We are looking forward to the game at Burnley. It is a different mindset, but we know how tough it will be," said Klopp.

"For the first time in ages, supporters in the stadium at Turf Moor and Sean Dyche – a proper competitive guy. The team lost to Leeds pretty clear, so they will want to strike back.

"It will be a tough one but qualifying for the Champions League should be tough. I have no problem with that.

"We just have to make sure we are ready. We have to bring all you need on the pitch again."

With the furore of Alisson's dramatic and historic goal having died down, defender Andy Robertson wants the Brazil international to go back to his day job.

"We'll let Ali maybe enjoy his moment just now (for) maybe five, 10 minutes and then we'll ask (for) a clean sheet from him on Wednesday because we're still in the hunt, we're still in it," he told liverpoolfc.com

"But it's going to be incredibly difficult and we now go to Turf Moor where there'll be fans."

ID:447951:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8142:

Click here for more stories about Jurgen Klopp

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Leicester City's Caglar Soyuncu celebrates scoring their second goal with James Maddison against Manchester United in the Premier League on May 11, 2021
Read Next:
How is the Premier League's top-four race shaping up?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!