Klopp makes a bold claim on Liverpool's top four chances

Liverpool have not been at their usual consistent best this season, leaving Klopp to make an admission on his side’s top-four chances.

Jurgen Klopp has admitted it would be ‘almost impossible’ for Liverpool to finish in the Premier League top four.

The Reds were runaway champions last season as they raced to their first league title in 30 years. However, it’s been a different story for their title defense. An inconsistent campaign has left the Reds in sixth place. While a top-four finish remains possible, it is not exactly certain given the competition from surrounding teams at the moment.

While discussing Liverpool’s season so far, Klopp has rued errors made by his players at both ends of the pitch. Speaking further on his side’s ambitions, the German says the strengths of the teams ahead of them, as well as a series of injuries suffered by his own players, leaves him pessimistic about their top-four chances.

In an interview Lothar Matthaus on Sport Bild, the Liverpool boss said: “The opponent usually doesn’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 Manchester City in the Premier League, but far from them in the ones we actually scored. This problem has been going on throughout the season.”

Jurgen Klopp on #LFC not qualifying for the Champions League:

"It would mean a huge financial loss. Otherwise not that much. I would be questioned in a situation like our current one. This is completely normal, reality, the business. I'd accept that immediately." #awlfc [bild]
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) March 17, 2021

Speaking on Liverpool’s top-four hopes, Klopp added: “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.”

It is still too early to say but Klopp might be right given his side’s inconsistency at the moment. Liverpool’s best chance of playing in the Champions League next season might well be winning it once again this year.