The Reds soared to a first English league title in 30 years
last season but have stumbled badly in defending their crown in 2020-21,
meaning they are at serious risk of not qualifying for the Champions League
next year.
Klopp has rued errors made by his players at both ends of
the pitch, and says the strengths of the teams ahead of them - as well as a
series of injuries suffered by his own key men - mean he is pessimistic about
Liverpool's chances of sitting at European football's top table in 2021-22.
Speaking to Lothar Matthaus, who was guest editing German
newspaper SportBild, Klopp 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.”
On qualifying for next season’s Champions League via the
league, rather than winning the competition, 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.”
The Reds are sixth in the Premier League at the moment, five
points behind Chelsea, who currently occupy the final Champions League
qualification slot.
They do, however, have the option of qualifying by winning
this year's competition, and are in the quarter-finals after easing past RB
Leipzig 4-0 on aggregate in the round of 16. Liverpool will find out their next
opponents in the draw on Friday.
Asked what damage missing out on the Champions League might
do to Liverpool, Klopp said they would be hit in football terms and financially
- but feels it would be a lot worse for other clubs.
He said: “It would mean a huge financial loss. Otherwise not
that much. I am aware: in almost all football clubs in the world, I would be
questioned in a situation like our current one. This is completely normal,
reality, the business. I would accept that immediately, but it’s different here
in Liverpool.
"Our owners, the sports director, even the players:
nobody doubts anyone here. We have accepted the situation for ourselves and
fight our way through it.
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