Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can handle the pressure in Champions League race
Monday 15 May 2017 07:59, UK
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool have shown they can handle the pressure in the race for a top-four finish and insists they are "100 per cent" focused ahead of the season finale against Middlesbrough.
The Reds go into the final game of the season at home to relegated Boro with their Champions League destiny in their own hands after a 4-0 win over West Ham on Super Sunday thanks to two goals from Philippe Coutinho, sandwiched by strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi.
A win next Sunday will guarantee a place among Europe's elite next season and Klopp says the win at London Stadium shows his players can handle the pressure, especially after Arsenal won emphatically at Stoke on Saturday to keep them in the hunt for a Champions League spot.
"We have one more game and we will stay focused, 100 per cent," said Klopp. "We know the situation and no one will underestimate the next game. That's how it is, part of this life is to handle pressure. I thought we did really well.
"We drew the last game against Southampton and missed a penalty, and maybe people thought we don't deal with pressure.
"But these players did and that's why we are in the position we are - 73 points is not a present, we have had to work for it."
