Liverpool’s Last Stand of the Season, Four Matches to go
By Paul Drake
Every Liverpool fan is disappointed by Sunday’s result against Crystal Palace. Jürgen Klopp believes that the Reds will turn it around in their final four matches, and fight until the end.
Klopp’s side is an inconsistent beast this season, and that showed again on Sunday. Liverpool currently sit third in the Premier League table with 66 points. It is not inconceivable that the Reds still qualify for the Champions League next season; it will be a fight to the finish if they do.
In the after-match press conference via Liverpool FC News, Klopp said that his side will not let a Champions League spot “slip through their fingers” again without a fight. Let’s hope so, it will not be an easy run to the finish. Both, Manchester City and Manchester United are two fixtures behind the Reds, allowing them plenty of opportunity to catch Klopp’s squad in the table.
A Disaster of a Sunday Lights A Fire
The Reds met their match on Sunday against Christian Benteke, who scored twice for the Eagles. Sam Allardyce’s side used the counter attack to take advantage of the Reds horrible midfield and defense. The mistakes mounted up against the Reds on Sunday and the Eagles let the Kop know it, Klopp’s side looked awful.
From the ashes of Sunday will rise a gritty Liverpool squad, who Klopp believes can finish top four. Klopp in his press conference remarked again about Champions League football fading away, “Only if we let it slip. That’s all I can say about this. We have tried everything and we will try everything. Our job is to squeeze everything we can squeeze out of this season. Obviously, it’s not easy for but that’s no surprise.”
It was apparent that Klopp is willing to try everything. Even in the final minutes of the match on Sunday, Klopp subbed for Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne, and James Milner within a matter of five minutes. He put on Alberto Moreno, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Marko Grujic. Throwing the kitchen sink at that situation did not help.
Looking Forward to Watford
The Reds have been handicapped by injuries in 2017, but Klopp says that Adam Lallana may return for Watford on May 1, “Maybe Adam will come back for the next game and that would help us in different situations and that is good.” Lallana is a solid midfielder and adds dynamics and leadership to the squad. Both Jordan Henderson and Lallana have been missed in the Klopp’s starting eleven.
After the match Klopp encouraged his team to find some grit and to not stop fighting. He told reporters, “I spoke to the boys after the game and told them it’s frustrating and disappointing, we made mistakes, that’s all true, and we have to feel it today, that’s how defeats are. There is one wonderful month, a football month, to go with four games. We will not give up – 100 percent not!”
It will take 100% from every Red to have a fighting chance at a top four finish. At this point, I’d almost be happy with the Europa League.
Next: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace player ratings!
All statistical information provided by Squawka.com