Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has backed Manchester United to finish in the top four as he feels it’s too much of an ask for his Liverpool side.
Liverpool are on a five-match winning streak as they sit fifth in the table, four points behind United having played a game more.
Klopp thinks United will get the points they need to secure a Champions League spot. That would mean Liverpool will have to settle for the Europa League next season.
“Other teams are in much better positions, as long as they win games we have no chance,” Klopp said prior to Liverpool’s league meeting with Brentford, as quoted by ESPN.
“We have to keep teams behind us. We have 59 points and United has 63, so we can get 71 maximum [at the end of the season]. United needs eight points in five, from 15 [and] I think they will do that.
“We have enough to do with ourselves. Tomorrow, Brentford is a difficult game to play. We can control the whole game theoretically and one set piece can kill you.”
When asked about finishing in the top four, Erik ten Hag said he is confident his players can get the job done. They will need to bounce back from Thursday night’s 1-0 defeat at Brentford when they travel to West Ham at the weekend.
However, even though Klopp is writing off his own team for a Champions League spot, it’s still within reach. The German coach stresses that his players will put everything into their remaining matches to ensure the strongest finish possible.
“If our performances put pressure on other teams that is not in our hands. The way they played over this season, the top four teams, no one looks like losing more games than they win,” Klopp added.
“For us the plan is finishing as high as we can, now that means fifth but that is not given. Sixth is not given. Aston Villa, Tottenham, Brentford are all fighting for that and so are we.”
Remaining fixtures of United, Liverpool and Brighton
Manchester United: West Ham (A), Wolves (H), Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (H), Fulham (H)
Liverpool: Brentford (H), Leicester (A), Aston Villa (H), Southampton (A)
Brighton: Everton (H), Arsenal (A), Newcastle (A), Southampton (H), Man City (H), Aston Villa (A)
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