Jurgen Klopp: 'Difficult to keep pace with Chelsea'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that it is "difficult" to keep pace with Chelsea in the Premier League title race at the moment.

The Reds sat top of the pile a month ago but have taken just five points from their last four games, opening the door for Chelsea to storm top with a run of nine consecutive wins.

A 2-2 home draw with West Ham United this afternoon means that the gap to Chelsea is now six points, but Klopp stressed that there is still a long way to go.

"It's difficult to stay in the race with Chelsea when they win everything and we didn't," he told reporters.

"I don't think about it. When we were first or second I wasn't thinking about it. This is the moment to collect points as much as possible.

"The season is very long and as everybody knows the most intense time is coming now. At this moment six points behind is not what we wish but we cannot change it. The only thing we can do is do what we do best."

Liverpool's next match sees them take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night.