Jurgen Klopp has urged Liverpool to keep piling the pressure on Newcastle United and Manchester United in the battle for Champions League qualification.
And the Reds boss admits he didn’t believe a European berth was possible ahead of his team’s remarkable run of form that has now sealed a place in next season's Europa League.
Liverpool racked up their seventh successive Premier League win as a Curtis Jones brace was added to by Trent Alexander-Arnold in an emphatic 3-0 win at relegation-threatened Leicester City on Monday.
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Klopp’s side have once again moved to within a point of third-placed Newcastle and Manchester United in fourth, albeit with only two games remaining and having played one more than their near rivals.
The result also secured a top-six finish and at the very least Europa League football for Liverpool next season, and Klopp said: “It’s a massive relief. Six or seven weeks ago I didn’t believe it could happen.
“What we lacked at that time was obviously consistency and there was only one chance to get into the situation we are in now, and that was winning all our games. It’s crazy, but that’s the situation we were in.
“We knew before the game that if we won, we would qualify for the Europa League, which is absolutely great from where we were coming from. All the rest is not in our own hands but we know we have to win all the games until the end of the season to have a chance.
“I’m pretty sure United and Newcastle are not watching us confident it is all fine. We have been in similar situations and you wish anyway the opponent loses and you have that pressure off your shoulders. And our job is to keep the pressure. We have to keep them on their toes.
“Again, it’s not likely (to finish in the top four). But if not, then this is already better than we could have expected six or seven weeks ago.”
Liverpool have won three successive away league games for the first time in a year and could still finish on 71 points – more than their tally two years ago during which a strong finish saw them end up in third place.
And Klopp added: “We are in a good moment. We weren’t always convincing in the seven games but we have had convincing moments in games. Now we are increasing what we have to do, especially when you think next season we have to be more and longer in charge of the game.
“Not each moment where we take the foot a little bit off the gas should lead to a no-brainer for the opponent and Ali has to make a save. There is so much space to improve.”
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