Liverpool have nothing to do with top-four race – Klopp

Liverpool “have nothing to do” with the top-four race in the Premier League at this moment in time, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Anfield in a thrilling game on Saturday to move to within six points of fourth-place Newcastle United, albeit having played a game more.

Despite showing signs of old with back-to-back wins this week against Forest and Leeds United, Klopp does not believe finishing in a Champions League spot is currently feasible.

“Honestly, top four at the moment, we have nothing to do with it,” he told BBC Sport. “We will see about that in a few weeks. The rest we have no influence.

“We take it game by game and we have West Ham next which is really tough and then we go from there. I am happy we got all three points again.”

3 points @LFC pic.twitter.com/3qQmgLops1

— Ibrahima Konate (@IbrahimaKonate_) April 22, 2023

Liverpool follow up their trip to West Ham on Wednesday with three successive home games, providing an opportunity to build the type of momentum they have lacked all season.

The Reds have registered more than two wins on the spin only once this season – a run of four that ended at the turn of the year.

Mohamed Salah’s 70th-minute effort sealed victory against Forest after Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White both cancelled out goals from Diogo Jota.

Forest’s two goals came from long throw-ins, and Klopp accepts his side were far from perfect against the relegation-threatened side.

“I liked that we stayed in the game and all this chaos around the throw-ins which you have to try to avoid,” Klopp said.

“Too many situations, we couldn’t clear properly but apart from that I am really pleased with a lot of things.

“We gave away two goals too easy and in a game like this you have to control possession. You don’t have to force it and sometimes we forced it.”