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Lee Ryder

Jurgen Klopp makes telling Newcastle United comment in Champions League admission

There were huge roars coming from the Strawberry pub on Sunday afternoon as Newcastle United's Champions League chances increased significantly.

At 3-3 in the game between Liverpool and Tottenam at Anfield, the live Premier League table had Eddie Howe's team 10 points clear in a Champions League place before Diogo Jota's last-gasp strike kept the Reds mathematically in the chase for Europe's top table. After the game Jurgen Klopp - a master of mind games - stated that Liverpool will not be able to break into the top four despite late-season winning form.

But maybe Klopp is simply being realistic as his team have a mountain to climb in the last handful of matches. Despite losing twice to the Kop side this term, Newcastle could still pip Klopp's team to the top four.

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Klopp said: "We have no chance to enter into the top four, of course not. Of course not. If (Man) United and Newcastle win all the games then how can we get there?

"If they start losing them we are close. Until then we have to win football games to qualify for Europe at all."

Liverpool sneaked into the Champions League two years ago in the final two games when all seemed lost. But their chances of doing it again aren't high according to the bookies with Squawka suggesting they have just a 9% chance of doing so.

It really is all down to the maths now for fans and media, but Eddie Howe knows he can only focus on football and continuing to win games. He said after the 3-1 win against Southampton: "I think from my perspective and on behalf of all the players, we want to try to win every game.

"We've got a very tough one to come next here, which will be a great occasion for us, and that's the only focus that I'll have on it."

In a nutshell, Newcastle can feel confident of bagging a Champions League place. Two wins might do it.

Or you can look at it the other way, Liverpool can only pick up 71 points if they win all of their last five games. Newcastle only need one more point to finish ahead of Spurs who have four games left and need to win them all to reach 66 points - their Champions League dream is as good as over.

For all the talk of a late surge from Aston Villa and Unai Emery, the Midlands club, like Spurs, can only pick up a maximum haul of 66 points. The one danger still lurking is the prospect of Brighton & Hove Albion stringing together what would be title winning form.

They have seven matches to go including a trip to Newcastle. The Seagulls sit on 52 points and can still in theory earn 73 points overall.

That feels unlikely, but Newcastle know they would need to hit 74 points to be sure, Brighton also head to Tyneside on May 18 but their party could be over by then. Brighton face seven games in 24 days and there will be tired bodies on the South Coast.

However, the main thing for Newcastle is that the situation is completely in their hands, keep winning and things will take care of themselves.

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