Callum Wilson has apologised for comments he made about Liverpool's resurgence as they continue to mount a top four charge.
The Reds have been largely inconsistent for much of the campaign, dropping well below the standards expected of them. As a result, a team that challenged for the quadruple last term are now having to battle to simply qualify for next season's Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp's side underlined their quality by taking Manchester United to the cleaners on Sunday as they recorded a 7-0 victory. They've now won four of their last five Premier League matches, without conceding a goal in that time. One of those wins came over Newcastle last month.
The Merseysiders made the Magpies pay as they recorded a 2-0 win against ten men. Eddie Howe's side have occupied a spot in the top four for much of the season, but a dip in form has seen them slip behind Liverpool. Following that defeat Wilson was quizzed on Liverpool's chances, but appeared to pour water on their display.
He said: “You’re asking me are Liverpool back? What do you want me to say? They have won two games after the last couple of weeks and like I’m saying we technically let them win, it was a poor performance from our point of view."
Several weeks on from those comments and Liverpool have now leapfrogged Newcastle into fifth, albeit the north east side have a game in hand are only a point behind. Nevertheless, the Reds look to have found their form with Wilson now backtracking on his words.
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He said on the Footballer’s Football Podcast : "I apologise for saying that Liverpool aren’t back. They’re back with a bang! Anything I say at the minute the universe shows the opposite.”
Klopp has tried all season to find a winning formula after a summer of change. Sadio Mane departed whilst club-record signing Darwin Nunez arrived from Benfica. The club also opted against signing a new midfielder, which continued to be a major issue for months.
Ahead of the final few months, however, the German is happy for his Liverpool side to be in the mix having looked for long periods like they could miss out on the top four all together.
Klopp said: “You really have to go for it. I have no clue what it means to [our rivals for the top four] but I think they realise already we are not completely gone. It is not that if we are in no man’s land. And that is clear. The other teams know we are still around and that's better than if they can’t see us any more.”
