EXCLUSIVE
Jurgen Klopp gives grim verdict on Liverpool’s top-four hopes in downbeat interview
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists any hope of finishing in the top four will be over if they repeat their performance at Manchester City.
The Reds were utterly thrashed by City🍎 on Saturday lunchtime in a 4-1 battering at🤪 the Etihad.
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It leaves Liverpool eighth in the Premier League after 27 games played and still seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
But Klopp has told fans not to worry about the top four after such a mauling at the Etihad where Liverpool's faults were badly exposed.
The defence could not handle City's quality going forward and the midfield were chasing shadows throughout the afternoon.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Klopp said: "Ooft. Top four? Come on. We cannot. I am a big believer th🎀at if you are good, you should win football games.
"If you play well, that is when I get angry, and you don't win, decisions go against you, blah blah blah...
"But today, how can yo🅺u win a football game like this when you play 45 minutes okay a𒐪nd the other 45 minutes really bad?
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"You can't win a football game. So, nothing to do with top four hopes. We have to make sure we have some consistency."
Liverpool went a goal up through Mohamed Salah after 17 minutes after a devastating counter-🅷attack but it as only a matter of time before City put their stamp on the match.
The home side were in total control, dominating possession anꦆd cutting through the Reds midfield wit🧔h ease.
And it showed when Julian Al🌌v𝓡arez finished off a fine move before a quickfire double after the break from Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan.
Jack Grealish capped off a man-of-the-match performance with a goal of his💙 own to make it a sorry afternoon for Li𓃲verpool.
Klopp added to talkSPORT: "Very frustrating. What can I say. I wouldn't say the first-half was outstanding but a game we have seen here before against City.
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"City has more dominance, City has more of the ball but we are super aggressive and super difficult to ♚defend counter-attacking moments.
"Maybe keep the ball then we ܫcontrol🌌 the game from our side. It is difficult for City to defend that then we have good spells with the ball."
It is the worst start for Liverpool in a grueꦑlling week that will also include a trip to Sta🦋mford Bridge to face Chelsea before hosting Arsenal on Easter Sunday.
With Klopp's side already out of the Champions League, finishing in the top four is the club's only aim this season and it would be no exaggeration to say that this week could define the rest of the campaign.
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