Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Newcastle United would be 'happy' if Liverpool were not chasing them down - even if the Reds boss conceded it is 'more likely' the Magpies will qualify for the Champions League.
Newcastle remain in third place in the table with just three games to go as Eddie Howe's side bid to return to Europe's top table for the first time in 20 years. Although fifth-placed Liverpool have the chance to close the gap to just a point, by defeating Leicester City tonight, Newcastle's fate remains in their own hands and the black-and-whites will still have a game in hand.
Newcastle know that, regardless of Liverpool's results, five points from their final fixtures against Brighton, Leicester City and Chelsea will be enough to qualify for the Champions League if Howe's team preserve their superior goal difference. That is why Klopp feels this is a very different situation to when Liverpool ended the season strongly to secure a place in the top four in 2021 thanks to goalkeeper Alisson's stoppage-time header against West Brom on the final day or when the Reds recovered from a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals to win the tie 4-3 two years earlier.
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"Everyone who was involved in these moments will never forget it in our entire lives,” Klopp told reporters. “That means it is part of us and we were around when miracles happened - that is true - but then it was still in our hands. We had to score against West Brom and we had to win against Barcelona. Now we have to win, but that does not mean anything changes because the other teams could win all their games. That's the difference.
“A few weeks ago, it was completely out of sight. I couldn’t see it at all, but that did not mean we would not try to get closer. That’s the only thing we did - we got closer. I am pretty sure we were in a situation like that years ago in the second season we qualified for the Champions League. Chelsea were winning all the time behind us so we had to win all the games. It’s not comfortable but, in the end, we made it anyway.
"Newcastle and [Manchester] United would be happy if we would not be there any more and Brighton just starts losing now and Tottenham, and that it was safe and they could concentrate on other stuff. But it is still more likely that they will do it. I respect that. If they finish the season above us, they deserve it. That's how I see it.”
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