Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp continues to play down his side's chances of making the top four as he heaped more praise on Newcastle United. The Reds kept the pressure on in the race for Champions League football with a clearcut win over Leicester City on Monday, moving to within one point of Manchester United and the Magpies.
Newcastle still have a game in hand over Klopp's side and can reinstate their four-point advantage with a win over Brighton at St James' Park on Thursday. Three points under the lights on Tyneside, coupled with a Liverpool defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday would be enough to guarantee Eddie Howe's side a spot at Europe's top table.
Klopp knows that time is running out and admits he isn't expecting to leapfrog Newcastle between now and the end of May. “I don’t think it’s likely (finishing in the top four) when you see how Newcastle and Manchester United play. They have so much quality," the Liverpool boss told Sky Sports.
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Liverpool endured a tough start to the season and have been playing catch up ever since. However, the Reds have since rediscovered their best form of late, putting seven wins together on the spin.
“Our job is to keep the pressure (on Newcastle United and Manchester United), but if not, this is already better than we could have expected six or seven weeks ago," Klopp added.
“I have no clue what it means to us. Four or five years ago, we had Chelsea on our neck, and they were winning all the time. I think it was the year we finished fourth, and had to go in the qualification.
“We had to win the last game, and until the last we had to win, win, win, because behind us they were always winning. We made it anyway, and that’s what I expect them to do as well, if I'm honest."
