JURGEN KLOPP REFUSED to wave the white flag on Liverpool finishing in the Champions League places despite his side’s capitulation against Southampton, which saw them surrender a two-goal lead to lose 3-2.
The Reds should have secured maximum points at St Mary’s Stadium after a commanding first half, in which strikes from Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge handed them a comfortable cushion on Sunday afternoon.
After the break, however, it was the hosts who were dominant and they secured victory in the last 10 minutes.
Saido Mane kickstarted the comeback before Graziano Pelle levelled matters on 83 minutes. The Senegal international then struck moments afterwards to derail Liverpool’s push for a top-four spot.
Klopp refused to accept the chance to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition had slipped away from his charges, but maintained it would be a massive ask to finish so strongly.
“There are still 27 points for us to get from nine games? If we can get all of them, there’s a chance, if not it’s difficult,” he said after the match.
“It is difficult and we don’t have to dream of things like this – we have to play football and win games. If we play like we did in the first half, we can win games.
“If we play like we did in the second half, it’s a little bit more difficult.”
