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Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp says Champions League complacency would 'be silly'

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments204

Liverpool scored beautiful goals - Klopp

Liverpool are not going to "be silly" by presuming they will easily beat Middlesbrough to secure a Champions League return, says boss Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds are guaranteed a top-four spot if they beat already-relegated Boro at Anfield in next Sunday's final game.

Fifth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, are four points behind them.

"I've been in the business long enough to know the biggest mistake is counting points before you have them," Klopp said after the 4-0 win at West Ham.

"We won't do this. The first sentence the boys said in the dressing room - and I didn't have to say it - was 'one more game'. We want this Champions League position."

Liverpool are aiming to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in three seasons during Klopp's first full campaign.

The German, 49, replaced the sacked Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, going on to lead the Reds to an eighth-placed finish last season.

Before Sunday's trip to London Stadium, Liverpool knew they could not be overhauled in the top four if they won both of their final two games.

And they responded with a thumping victory as two goals from Philippe Coutinho and strikes by Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi saw off the Hammers.

Philippe Coutinho's heat map against West Ham
Brazil international Coutinho controlled the game from the Liverpool midfield with 78 total touches and 58 passes

However, the Reds will clinch a top-four spot before Boro's visit if Arsenal lose at home to relegated Sunderland on Tuesday.

"Middlesbrough have nothing to lose but we have everything to lose," added former Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp.

"We have always known we will have to go until the end of the season, that is no problem for us.

"If we win we deserve to be in the Champions League. If not, we don't deserve it.

"We found a good mood against West Ham and if we find it in the next game then we have a good chance. But counting points in the next game is really silly, we won't do this."

MOTD3: Has Liverpool's season been a success?

Liverpool love the capital - stats you need to know

  • Liverpool have now won at 52 different grounds in the Premier League, more than any other side in the competition (Arsenal and Manchester United next on 50).
  • West Ham suffered their joint-worst home defeat in the Premier League, losing by a four-goal margin for the third time this season (also 1-5 v Arsenal and 0-4 v Manchester City).
  • The Reds have won four of five Premier League games in London this season (drew one), going unbeaten in the capital across an entire league season for the first time since 1988-89 season.
  • This is the first time since 1998-99 that the Hammers have conceded four or more goals in four different home games in a single league season.
  • Philippe Coutinho was directly involved in three goals in a single game for Liverpool for the first time (two goals and one assist).
  • All three of Philippe Coutinho's Premier League braces have come in London (also v Chelsea in Oct 2015 and Arsenal in Aug 2016).
  • Liverpool's 11 shots on target were the most that West Ham have faced in a Premier League game this season and the most since November 2015 (v Tottenham, 12).

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204 comments

  • Comment posted by TakeMeToYourLeader, at 07:15 15 May 2017

    LFC have stuttered in the last few games - it was nice to see our class back on display. The only thing we have lacked all season is squad depth - with that we would have had a lot more points and hopefully a few additions can sort that out

  • Comment posted by Faberlous, at 08:14 15 May 2017

    As an Arsenal supporter, of course I want the gunners to qualify for CL. But saying that I can not understand the comments about Liverpool not being CL quality. Their form against the PL top 6 alone suggests that they have a decent shot of doing well. And Klopp is certainly not boring, totally mad, but not boring🤓

    Will be a great end of season....

  • Comment posted by dukeborric, at 07:10 15 May 2017

    2 trolls in the first 5 posts. HYS at its best. Anyway as a LFC supporter l hope Coutinho stays and plays in the midfield from now on.

  • Comment posted by U16543576, at 07:41 15 May 2017

    Come on liverpool, come on city and come on Ajax.

  • Comment posted by Malcolm Holmes, at 11:15 15 May 2017

    I am a Liverpool fan and really chuffed if we make the Champions League. On a more humane and serious note. The sight of Jermaine Defoe carrying his friend Bradley Lowery on to the pitch must not go unrecognised by either the FA, the Premier League or both. Jermaine deserves some kind of recognition by footballs governing bodies for the support he has given to Bradley.Its not always about money

  • Comment posted by Wonkey1975, at 07:35 15 May 2017

    Why? I don't any Liverpool fan would think they would need to resort to prayer to win a CL playoff tie.

    If Man U wanted to affect Liverpool's season they would have needed to finish above them and in the top 4.

    However, I will LMAO if Ajax win...perhaps Man U fans should be praying their own team delivers and and stop praying Liverpool lose?

  • Comment posted by Swigbert, at 06:58 15 May 2017

    Good result yesterday, nice to see. Really looking forward to the last day for a change.

  • Comment posted by lewlil, at 08:17 15 May 2017

    i must be a strange breed as i want to see as many british teams in the CL as possible. im a die hard LFC fan and think we deserve champions league this year as before xmas we were the best team.

    however we need some quality players, a left back and another mobile attacking midfielder.

    ignore the trolls they have paper rounds to do.

    ynwa

  • Comment posted by RealFootball, at 07:50 15 May 2017

    Champions League would be a massive over-achievement this season

    1. Shoestring budget recently compared to our main competitors (due to huge stadium renovation)
    2. Smallest squad in top 6
    3. Constant injuries to best players all season

    CL is crucial in order to sign the best players, we'll certainly have the money to compete this time and only Middlesbrough stand in the way of our ascent

  • Comment posted by JOHNNY, at 08:42 15 May 2017

    mmmm let me see... some people on here saying they are not good enough for cl football.. they beat Chelsea at their ground ,beat gunners at their ground ,draw with spuds and should of beat them at their ground... if they are not good enough where does this leave the other teams? .. btw a Rotherham fan but the league does not lie,,, hope LFC go on and win it

  • Comment posted by U15394510, at 10:37 15 May 2017

    To clarify.

    Barely any LFC fan sees finishing 4th as 'success'

    However, it is definitely something to celebrate as it generates more revenue, attracts better players, brings big European nights back to Anfield and ultimately increases the chance that Liverpool will be able to challenge in the future.

    For United, the EL trophy is secondary to the CL qualification it brings with it.

  • Comment posted by nicknack1, at 09:12 15 May 2017

    As an arsenal fan I'd quite us to play UEFA cup sorry europa league for 2 reasons.

    Firstly we might actually stand a chance to win it and secondly I can watch it on free to air.

    Liverpool can have bayern Munich thanks

  • Comment posted by BigRob, at 09:08 15 May 2017

    LFC not good enough for the CL ? Maybe not to win it but no PL side is at that level right now. LFC beat Arsenal home and away, 4 points v Chelsea incl an away win, 4 pts v MCFC and v THFC so more than good enough to get to knock out stages, maybe 1/4s but no farther...yet.

  • Comment posted by U14838542, at 10:19 15 May 2017

    As a Liverpool fan I absolutely won't be focusing on the CL until we've beaten boro.

    This is exactly the type of game LFC continually struggle to do well in. If boro come to defend and stick 11 men behind the ball we don't seem to have the ability to break this type of play. We generally do well against teams who try to beat us

  • Comment posted by spiceboy70, at 08:59 15 May 2017

    Just read an article from afrtermatch yesterday from mourinho !!! It states from him we don't really want to play premier league matches at this time !! What a ridiculous comment coming from supposedly one of the biggest clubs in the worlds manager !! You make no mistake they were trying to finish 4th or higher . They are just simply not good enough ! The clown is full of s--t . Come on Ajax !!!!

  • Comment posted by geow93, at 08:54 15 May 2017

    As it stands, tricky game against Middlesbrough due to the pressure. Maybe after tomorrow things will be even clearer...

  • Comment posted by 2zcity, at 12:44 15 May 2017

    As a city fan it's been great to watch Liverpool over the past few seasons slowly getting better and a top four spot is on merit just like to know reading some of the comments here how can Utd fans ( if there are such things in real life ) comment and say anything with the dross they been playing the past few seasons I pay to be entertained Utd don't entertain anyone except the dead

  • Comment posted by - - - And Out Come The Wolves, at 18:49 15 May 2017

    Mourinho is a joke of a loser. Claiming yesterdays line up was "not a team just a group of players" - Some manager, he apparently threw together a group of random nuts & bolts to face spurs. But seriously, shouldnt the top managers be able to form a coherent team from their named squads? Particularly if your squad has had a £500M input over last 4 seasons? And 14 were full internationals?? Joke!

  • Comment posted by firminos teeth, at 11:07 15 May 2017

    Seems like a formality Liverpool only need to turn up to win. Let us caste our minds back to Crystal palace where by the form they were in that season it should have been a straight forward win. To top it off Liverpool were up 3-0 up after 55 mins, and ended up drawing and lost the title within 40 mins.

    Chances are they will win, but they will still need to play a their best for 90 mins

  • Comment posted by jer1956, at 09:24 15 May 2017

    Liverpool not good enough for CL? The worry is any Premier League is to knackered to do well in it. Those moaning about Liverpool qualifying should remember the last to PL teams to win it where Chelsea.....and Liverpool. That fact 2005 is 12 years ago says more about the quality of those who qualified since than Liverpool.

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