Jurgen Klopp has urged his side to remain positive ahead of the final stretch of the season despite their Europa League exit to Atalanta.
After a poor week which saw Liverpool draw with Manchester United and lose to Atalanta and Crystal Palace, they returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Atalanta in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals.
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“It’s never about how many punches you get, it’s always how you deal with them if you allow them and that’s how we have to deal with the situation,” said Klopp.
“We will find a way to be positive, to see the chance in front of us. You have to play an opponent who has their own targets, longer time for recovery, different situations — that’s the challenge in football because we never play just for ourselves, we always have an opponent.
“We have to make sure we become a team that the opponent does not want to play against.”
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Liverpool ended a run of nine matches without a clean sheet and Klopp was pleased with a number of aspects of his side’s performance — although his side ran out of steam.
After reflecting on the disappointing week which dented hopes of a triumphant farewell to Klopp, the Liverpool manager’s message to his players remains upbeat.
“I see the good in the situation,” he said. “Where we are is fantastic. What should influence us more, is it the last game, the last week or is it the chance in front of us. There is a next chance for us and to turn things absolutely around in all departments. We can still make an outstanding season.
“The boys know I don’t tell them things which I don’t believe in. I’m 100 per cent sure we can really win all the football games we have from now on.”
The only remaining focus is the six Premier League games. Defeat to Crystal Palace meant the title’s destiny was removed from Liverpool’s control and they are now relying on both Manchester City and Arsenal to slip up.
“I think if we would win all our games there is a good chance we will be champions,” said Klopp. “If not then it’s a good chance somebody else is there. Maybe we only have to win five or whatever. Nobody knows. Who would have thought that Arsenal lose against Aston Villa.
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“Now we all sit here and think City will win all their games. That’s happened quite frequently but they have a lot of games to play, difficult opponents. We don’t think about them. It’s just how can we make sure that we start winning games.
“We had a bad week result-wise, not even performance-wise all of it. That’s why I’m absolutely positive and processing things properly, I’m more than happy with the situation we are in.”
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(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
