A Martin Skrtel own goal and Georginio Wijnaldum’s late second consigned Liverpool FC to just their second defeat under manager Jurgen Klopp. However, Klopp dismissed any suggestions of the Reds being title challengers this season, saying that no one at the club is talking about winning the league.
Klopp has already registered comprehensive victories at Chelsea FC and Manchester City, and the German’s competent start at Liverpool FC has tempted quite a few fans to get carried away and suggest that the Reds could compete for the Premier League title as early as this season.
Klopp steers clear of claims of Liverpool being title challengers
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann said the people who were dreaming of Liverpool being title contenders should come back to reality after Liverpool’s defeat at Newcastle. But Klopp dismissed any such claims, admitting that no one at Liverpool FC is eyeing the title.
“I didn’t say before that we are title contenders, why should I explain now why we are not? It’s really not my thing to talk about,” Klopp said in the post match press conference, as reported by Sky Sports.
“For us on this side of the table it’s really important always to try to be in the middle – not going nuts when you win and getting crazy when you lose. It’s not a reality check, it’s only a bad game.
“We played this game and at this moment I’m trying to understand why. We’ve got to try and understand why. If in professional football you don’t feel defeats, you don’t feel a loss, then something is really wrong.
“We feel this defeat. We know for today it’s deserved, but it hurts, like it should do.”
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Top four finish possible for the Reds?
Liverpoole are currently placed 7th in the table, nine points adrift of leaders Leicester City. Despite the defeat on Sunday, Klopp has lived up to the promise with which he arrived at Anfield, and a few undesirable results — amidst the settling and rebuilding — are a given.
Nevertheless, a top four finish is within reach for Liverpool FC this season, and although Klopp might not admit it, the German will surely be thinking about Champions League football next season.