Klopp – Champions League qualification has not slipped through Liverpool’s fingers

Jurgen Klopp insists that Liverpool’s top-four hopes have not been irreparably damaged by Sunday’s loss to Crystal Palace at Anfield.

A brace from Christian Benteke, who left the Reds to join Palace at the start of the season, saw Klopp’s side beaten 2-1 and while they remain third in the Premier League table, Liverpool can be leapfrogged by Manchester City and Manchester United, and also caught by Arsenal if their rivals win their games in hand.

However, a bullish Klopp believes that there is no need for panic as his team’s top-four chase continues.

“I know there are a lot of people around thinking: ‘oh my god, Champions League slips through our fingers again’, but only if we let it slip,” said the Liverpool manager.

“We have to try everything and we will try everything. Our job is to squeeze everything out of the season we can squeeze.

“Obviously, it is not easy for us – that is not a surprise.”

Klopp also praised former striker Benteke, who was sold to Palace in a deal potentially worth £32 million in August.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The Anfield chief said: “Christian Benteke is an outstandingly good striker – absolutely no doubt about it.

“But if you leave him alone like we did for the first goal; I am not sure he needed all his skills for this goal. It makes no sense to leave him alone.

“For the second goal, just one player reacted, and that is our mistake.”