‘Of course not…’ Klopp gives verdict on top four hopes after Liverpool beat Tottenham in seven-goal thriller

Jurgen Klopp has given his reaction after Liverpool dramatically secured a big three points against Tottenham at Anfield.

The Reds found themselves 3-0 up after just 15 minutes and it looked like it could be an easy scoreline for Klopp’s team. However, Spurs rallied and turned the game into an absolute classic.

Curtis Jones opened the scoring for Liverpool after Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered an inch-perfect cross to the back post. Jones finished the chance to give the Reds a 1-0 lead after just three minutes.

Tottenham failed to respond and conceded a second just two minutes later through Luis Diaz. Cristian Romero chopped down Mohamed Salah in the penalty area shortly after – who converted the spot kick confidently.

But, Spurs began to fight back through a Harry Kane goal in the 40th minute, giving his team some hope heading into half-time.

After showing some character in the second half, Heung-Min Son made the scoreline 3-2 after beating Allisson in a one-on-one.

Then, it looked as if Tottenham had completed the comeback in the dying moments of the game, with ex-Everton attacker Richarlison heading home his first Premier League goal of the season in the 93rd minute.

However, the draw wasn’t to be for Spurs, after Lucas Moura made a horrendous error and played the ball straight into Diogo Jota’s path. Jota made no mistake, and regained the lead for Liverpool.

In his post-match interview, Klopp praised his players for their fantastic start, but insisted his team have a lot to improve on.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “Super start in the game, outstanding start in the game.

“Top, top performance in all departments of football. How we played, how we pressed, how we counter-pressed, how we defended, how we reacted. 3-0 up, wow, what a game.

“First moment where we don’t defend properly the first line doesn’t react, the rest of the team is too deep, and all of a sudden we have a one-on-one in our box where Virgil van Dijk slips. You need to avoid a decision where it can be that situation.

“Second half the game is open because they started believing or kept believing. We opened the door for them and it looked like we pushed them through a little bit as well. The second goal they scored a situation that shouldn’t happen as well.

“The third goal, a tight set-piece in 92nd minute, always tricky. You want to avoid these kinds of set-pieces. But thank god, Diogo Jota saved us. That feels great.

“From a development point of view, a lot of things to love about that game and a lot of things not to like. That’s my life and the feeling is I like the good parts so much that my feeling is that we can sort the other stuff.

“Did we drop off? Maybe yes. In the first 20 minutes I don’t know how they got on the ball. The best way defend a counter-attack is to finish your situation off, the second-best is counter-pressing.

“If you don’t do either then there’s a counter-attack. That’s what they’re playing for and that’s why you have to do the right stuff.

“The problem is in football the scoresheet is one [piece of] information out of 500.

“The one bit we misunderstood because we didn’t do the other 495 things and that’s enough for Tottenham to stay in the game. We gave them a lifeline and that’s why it happened.

“Before the game I would’ve taken each result and each performance to get the three points.”

Klopp comically seemed to pull his hamstring when celebrating Jota’s winner, but also got in the pitch-side official’s face, which he admitted was wrong.

On that, he added: goal: “I’m not sure if it’s the hamstring it could be the adductor but I got punished.

“Little sins immediately. I turned around for the celebration because the fourth official got nothing wrong the whole time. I didn’t say anything bad, I gave a look which is bad enough.

“The hamstring or whatever the muscle gave up in that moment. That’s fair. Apart from that, all okay.”

Finally, when questioned if Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League, Klopp said: “Of course not.

“If United and Newcastle wins all the games then how can we get there? If they start losing them we are close. Until then we have to win football games to qualify for Europe at all.

“Brighton played one of the best football games this weekend I’ve ever seen in my life, I have to say, Roberto De Zerbi, wow. They are behind us with two games in hand. Aston Villa are developing. If we can keep them behind us that will already be success.”

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