Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the Reds cannot qualify for the Champions League if they play as inconsistent as they do at the moment, following their shock defeat to Leeds United.
The Merseyside outfit hosted Leeds United at Anfield in their latest fixture in the English Premier League and fell to a defeat. Leeds United secured a 2-1 win as the Reds dropped three more important points in the top-four race.
Speaking after the match, Klopp was asked about Liverpool’s top four prospects. Klopp said he is aware of the distance they are away from the top-four, but insisted it is not his main worry.
He also confessed that Liverpool will not be able to qualify for Champions League next season if they continue to be as inconsistent as they are now.
Jurgen Klopp makes Liverpool Champions League claim after Leeds United defeat
Klopp admitted Liverpool could still finish in the top-four, but stressed they have to win games which they have not done often enough so far this season.
“But we cannot qualify for the Champions League if you play as inconsistent as we do at the moment. We have to fix that and then we will see where we will end up,” Klopp said [via GOAL].
“We know everything is possible, or a lot of things are possible. But for that, we have to win football games and we didn’t do that often enough yet.”
Meanwhile, against Leeds United, Liverpool saw themselves trailing by a goal just four minutes into the game. Leeds United scored their opener from a defensive error from Liverpool.
Joe Gomez placed a careless pass toward Alisson Becker, and Rodrigo Moreno made the most of it after the Liverpool goalkeeper lost his footing. Rodrigo duly slotted the ball into an empty net to hand Leeds United the lead.
Liverpool, though, restored parity just 10 minutes later. Mohamed Salah volleyed home from an Andy Robertson cross to make it 1-1.
However, Leeds United secured the win at the death, with Crysencio Summerville poking in a low shot past Alisson and into the Liverpool net in the 89th minute.
Meanwhile, the defeat leaves Liverpool eighth in the Premier League points table. The Reds have 16 points from 12 matches in the league so far this season. Liverpool are 13 points behind table-toppers and defending champions Man City, who have 29 points from 12 matches.
