LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has all but given up on his side winning the English Premier League title in his final season at the club.
The Reds lost 2-0 at city rivals Everton on Wednesday night, a result that left Klopp’s side three points adrift of leaders Arsenal and two behind second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
“I cannot sit here and say [Manchester City and Arsenal] still feel us around. I think even Arsenal and City see it as a two-horse race,” Klopp said today during his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s early kick-off at West Ham.
“We might have to say something else publicly, but they don’t expect for themselves to lose two games from now on, I don’t think so.
“I don’t expect them to do that. If they do it, then we would be completely silly if we were not around. So, I don’t think it will happen but if it happens, then we should be there. That means we have to win our games – starting with West Ham.”
When Klopp was asked to assess his final season at Liverpool, if there are no more twists in the title race, he said: “I would not assess it now. I have no clue, so I am not in the mood to give up, wave the white flag kind of thing.
“I just think we have to look after ourselves; just make sure that we play better football. I said after the game ‘why should a team who play like us against Everton be champions?’
“But the football we played before, a lot of good stuff. In January we looked invincible, with a depleted squad. Everybody went in the same direction, go for it, squeezed out results.
“So, we deserve to be where we are. I want us to use the situation, don’t feel the pressure, for whatever reason it is.
“The boys are incredible footballers and I see it as my job to create that atmosphere where they can be the best versions of themselves – and that’s obviously how I have failed.
“I don’t know how it happened, but I didn’t see anything of what I wanted us to be in the Everton game.”
Klopp joined Liverpool in 2015 and has won the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the club, but he announced weeks ago that this would be his final campaign at Anfield.
Dutchman Arne Slot, 45, is in talks with the Liverpool hierarchy to replace Klopp, and the German says he is an admirer of the Feyenoord manager.
“I’m not involved in the process, but I like a lot about it it, if he is the one and wants to take the job,” Klopp said.
“I like the way his team plays football. All the things I hear about him as a guy – a good guy. Some people I know, know him.
“I don’t know him, but some people who know him say he’s a good guy. I like that a lot. So good coach, good guy. Looking forward for the club, if he is the solution, if he is the man, I am more than happy.”
When asked how he would describe the Liverpool job to Slot, Klopp said: “Best job on the world. Best club in the world, and helps, obviously, with not finishing on a high, it looks like.
“Great job, great team, fantastic people. Slot ‘would’ be taking a really interesting job.”
