Klopp discusses Liverpool’s bleak January and top-four aims
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool’s “long-term project” of securing a top-four finish remains on track, despite his admission that their form in January ‘wasn’t something they needed’.
The Reds won just one of their first 10 games of 2017, as they slipped from second to fifth in the Premier League table.
They also suffered losses in the FA Cup and Capital One Cup, meaning that they have just one focus – a top-four finish – left this season.
Just one point separates Klopp’s side from both Tottenham and Arsenal, who are third and fourth respectively, while Manchester City are another two points clear.
Klopp is not giving up hope of Liverpool returning to the top four in the coming weeks.
“January was nothing we needed, but we had it,” the German said at the weekend. “It was kind of an experience, kind of a reminder.
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“Everything is good until the moment when it’s not that good anymore – (then) it’s not only not good anymore, it’s as bad as it ever was!
“I can understand that people feel like this, but it’s not real, it’s not true. The truth is that we always have a chance. I’ve said a few times, I’m not the best manager in the world but I’m really good at staying on track.
“Most of the time in my life I had to fight for other things that are not that valuable – staying in the league, try to survive somehow, as a player especially.
“Life was good but not because life was good, but because I gave life the chance to be good, even when the pressure was high. That’s what we could do.
“So, let’s use the experiences we made this year, let’s learn from it and yes, let’s be stronger after all these things. The future is still bright.
“This is a long-term project but that doesn’t mean we are not ambitious in this season. We are very, very (ambitious) to have the biggest success we can get, but we’ll only know at the end of the season what it is.”