Klopp ready for a ‘spectacular’ top-four battle

JURGEN KLOPP considers a top-four finish this season as one of the toughest challenges he has faced at Liverpool because of the unprecedented competition. Klopp’s side face Leicester tonight five points off a Champions League spot, with the german working on the basis of five clubs fighting for two places — with Arsenal and Manchester City out of sight. ‘There was always going to be a top seven this season because we know newcastle is a massive contender from now on,’ said Klopp. ‘only four can make it and it looks at the moment there are two places left. ‘Arsenal are having an exceptional season, City are City, Manchester united are clearly getting back, Tottenham fighting hard, Chelsea still there. ‘It will be tough. We’d better play a special second half of the season to have a chance to make it to the Champions League, which is our target.’ Liverpool have been playing catch-up after failing to win any of their first three games but Klopp is looking forward to the chase. ‘The quality of the opponents is clear but most of the things we can still sort ourselves,’ he said.

‘We are under pressure but so are other teams because it is not the nicest thing to have us a few points behind. It will be a massive fight with a lot of spectacular games.’ Klopp has been boosted by the £44million signing of netherlands forward Cody gakpo, and he thinks Liverpool did well to move before the 23-year-old’s valuation rose. ‘He is a young player with a lot of potential. If we’d waited for him scoring 40 goals in Spain, unaffordable,’ said Klopp (right). ‘It is all about timing, getting these boys in the right moment.

We believe in our process. When players come here, they take a step forward.’ Klopp witnessed robert Lewandowski’s early struggles at Borussia Dortmund, so he can tell Darwin nunez and gakpo with authority that it is not how you start at a club, but how you finish. nunez, who cost Liverpool more this summer than Manchester City spent on erling Haaland, is being outscored 20 to five by the norwegian. Haaland’s phenomenal figures could add to the pressure but Klopp insists Liverpool are not expecting instant miracles, recalling Lewandowski’s first campaign in germany when he scored only eight league goals. ‘Journalists would ask me why he was playing instead of Lucas Barrios, who had scored 16 the previous season,’ said Klopp. ‘Lewi would play different positions, like no 10, to learn different things and develop his game but didn’t like it too much. ‘We had shooting sessions where we had bets — if you score more than 10 I will pay you €10. If you don’t you have to pay me. My pocket was full of money! It was about staying calm. When you see potential, stay calm.’ The Liverpool manager’s history lesson is his way of telling gakpo he is not expected to take the league by storm. Ditto nunez. The uruguayan missed four good chances in the 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day, but his play was impressive. Klopp added: ‘Is everything right? no. But it is all coming. I am super calm about it. The team believe in him and that is really cool.’