Jurgen Klopp conceded Liverpool are virtually out of the title race following Wednesday night’s demoralising 2-0 defeat at Everton.
The setback at Goodison Park saw Liverpool slip three points behind leaders Arsenal while they are also two adrift of Manchester City, who also have a game in hand.
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Given the other sides’ superior goal difference, it realistically means both Arsenal and City will have to lose two of their remaining games to give Liverpool a chance – a scenario Klopp cannot see happening.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to West Ham, he said: “I cannot sit here and say they [Arsenal and City] still feel us around. I’m pretty sure Arsenal and City now see it as a two-horse race, even if they don’t say so publicly.
“They don’t expect themselves to lose two games from here. I don’t expect them to do it, but if they do it would be really silly if we were not around. If it happens, we should be there, so we need to win our football games.”
Liverpool were physically dominated by Everton in midweek and Klopp couldn’t hide his frustration at his side’s below-par display.
“I can never remember being as disappointed or frustrated after a game as I was after Everton, and I had some tough games in my life,” he added.
“We were not there, and when you see Arsenal and City playing very positive football with big results…we are where we are because we can play positive football, but we are not doing it in this decisive period.
“I blame myself 100 per cent, I am responsible for the mood the team is in. This team was not in the best place, we lost all the most decisive battles, it was really, really bad.
“But in general it’s been one or two weeks where we did not play positive football, and it always feels like we are trying to catch up with something.
“You have to be positive, and I will try absolutely everything to make sure I can enjoy our football again, that was not possible at all in our last game.”
Four goals and three points at the London Stadium in 16/17 💪 #WHULIV PIC.TWITTER.COM/VJJVX2GNTQ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) APRIL 26, 2024
It has still been an impressive final season in charge at Anfield for Klopp with many observers feeling his side have over-achieved in pushing Arsenal and City as close as they have.
And the German feels the intensity has caught up with his players over recent weeks.
He said: “We can mention a lot of stuff. Is it possible we were a bit tired or whatever? Yeah, it’s a long season. Was it a little bit too much? Maybe.
“Did anyone expect us to become champions at the beginning of the season? No, but it developed in this direction.
“Nobody here is happy at all. We cannot go back to the point where we say that top four is good enough. It is very good, but because we were so close, we are very disappointed at this moment.
“The worst thing about a defeat is if you don’t learn from it. We have to learn in the short term and for the long term with a different manager next year. Let’s hope we can use that.”
