Jurgen Klopp admits he’s waited TOO LONG to change ‘big things’ at Liverpool this season – as they hope for slips from Newcastle and Man United to sneak into top four
- Liverpool have closed the gap to the top four after six wins
- However, their hopes depend on a mistake by Man United or Newcastle
- Jurgen Klopp has admitted he left it too late to make big changes
Jurgen Klopp has admitted he may have left it too late to change ‘big things’ at Liverpool after their struggles this season.
The Reds’ top-four hopes look dead and buried as they were 12 points clear of Newcastle and Manchester United after their 2-2 draw with Arsenal last month.
Since then they have won six times and although they are now just one point off the top four, Man United, who occupy that fourth and final spot, also have a game in hand.
It means Klopp’s side will now have to rely on Newcastle and the Red Devils dropping points if they are to miraculously hold on to a Champions League spot – even if they win their remaining three games.
Ahead of their trip to Leicester on Monday, Klopp said when asked about his side’s improvement: “I’ve talked about that quite often, we tried to give ourselves a chance at a fresh start, we tried different football things.”
Jürgen Klopp has admitted he has waited too long this season to change things at Liverpool
The Reds’ top-four hopes appear dead and buried last month in what has been a miserable season
Liverpool’s recent improvement may have come too late to maintain another top-four spot
‘We had 8 or 9 training days between matches, we were almost ready to start the new season, it was a relief for all of us.
“We want to run the game differently, protect it differently, build it differently, it’s really fun for us to create something new. Then the results came in and it’s not a complete coincidence.
“Sometimes you have to change big things, usually small things, but sometimes you also have to change big things, that’s clear.
“We had good reason to change things, imagine if we changed it after winning almost four trophies last season.”
Klopp then admitted about the changes, adding: “We may have started this season a little late.”
One of the changes is that Trent Alexander-Arnold plays a hybrid midfield role, taking up central positions when the Reds have the ball.
It’s been a frustrating season for the Reds, who at times hinted they could get back into shape before playing another poor run of games.
Their 7-0 win over Manchester United in March was followed by defeats to Bournemouth and Man City, as well as draws to Chelsea and Arsenal.
One of the most notable changes is Trent Alexander-Arnold playing a more central role when Liverpool are in possession.
Liverpool trust Newcastle or Manchester United to slip in recent weeks
Since they’ve won six games, scored 17 goals in the process and are back in the hunt for the top four – although there’s still a lot to do.
Should they win their last three games, they would need Manchester United to drop points in two of their remaining four games.
Otherwise they would need Newcastle to suffer two defeats and a draw in their last four games.
It seemed unlikely two seasons ago that Liverpool would make the top four, but a good end to the season, with big moments such as Alisson’s winning header against West Brom, helped catapult them into third place by the end of the season.
Klopp said in reference to Alisson’s goal: ‘Miracles happen. But again, it was in our hands.
“Now we have to win, but maybe nothing will change. Weeks ago, the Champions League was completely out of sight, but we are getting closer.
“But if Newcastle and Manchester United finish the season above us, they deserve it. It’s about us winning. That is it.’