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Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp delivers fresh top four prediction amid Man Utd warning

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Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp delivers fresh top four prediction amid Man Utd warning

Jurgen Klopp has issued a warning that Brighton could be the latest side to fight for a Champions League place after their win over Manchester United on Thursday

Klopp happy to see Liverpool maintain form with Fulham win

Liverpool can close the gap to within a point of the Champions League places with a win over Brentford on Saturday evening.

Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded their fifth victory in a row on Wednesday as they scraped past Fulham at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah scoring the decisive goal. It was a result that moved to them four points behind fourth-place Manchester United in the race for the top-four.

The Red Devils had the chance to extend that gap but failed to capitalise as they were beaten 1-0 at Brighton on Thursday to leave the top four race wide open. However, Liverpool’s next game won’t be a walkover by any stretch. Thomas Frank’s Brentford have done well this season and won the reverse fixture 3-1.

Here is the latest news to come out of Anfield.

Klopp’s Champions League verdict

Jurgen Klopp has issued a warning to Manchester United and his Liverpool side that Brighton are firmly in the mix for a Champions League spot ahead of the run-in.

Brighton sit four points behind Liverpool in the table but have two games in hand – although they are against Manchester City and Newcastle.

He said: “Other teams are above us and if they win their games we have no chance. We have teams behind us, Brighton could win all of their games this season given how they played last night.

“We have 59 pts, we can get 71 maximum, I think United will get the points they need. We have enough to do with ourselves. Brentford, oh my God, it’s such a difficult game. They are really good at counter attacking. The players and the manager are great.

“All we can do is take care of our own business. The way the top four have played over the year, nobody looks like they’ll lose more games than they’ll win between now and end of the season.”

Jurgen Klopp has been speaking ahead of Liverpool’s game against Brentford

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Thiago will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery – while Diogo Jota has another issue and is doubtful for the game against Brentford.

The Spaniard has missed the last two matches against Tottenham and Fulham. Speaking in his press conference, Klopp said: Diogo has his back issue, he has a bruised rib. Bobby is not yet in team training, we hope he can start next week.

“Thiago will have the surgery and is out for the rest of the season. Hendo we have to see. He had a scan yesterday but we do not have the results yet. It’s not a big thing.”

They join Calvin Bassey and Stefan Bajetic on the injury table as Liverpool aim to get into the Champions League.

Liverpool to play national anthem

Liverpool will play the national anthem before Saturday’s game against Brentford – but have issued a “personal choice” to fans.

Before the game, Liverpool are set to mark a series of special events. In September 2022, the city was selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. Liverpool will celebrate that achievement and include a special section in the matchday programme, where Jurgen Klopp provides support for the competition.

Alongside this, in recognition of the Premier League’s request to mark King Charles III’s coronation, players and officials will congregate around the centre circle when the national anthem will be played. However, Liverpool added that “it is, of course, a personal choice how those at Anfield on Saturday mark this occasion”.

They also recognise that some Liverpool fans have strong views on the matter, with the King’s Coronation set to take place at Westminster Abbey at 11am – and last the majority of the day. During the ceremony, the King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort.

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Brighton set prices for midfield pair Caicedo and Mac Allister

Brighton have set their prices for midfield pair Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister.

Caicedo remains on the radar of Arsenal, while Mac Allister is a target for Liverpool and Manchester United.

Sky Sports says Brighton want £70m each for the two players.

And the midfield duo are expected to be sold this summer, with both having expressed their plans to depart.

Brigton chief Paul Barber said this week: “Well, there’s always going to be rumours when we do well and our people do well. There’s always going to be bigger clubs playing at a higher level looking to take our best people – but all we can do is perform at our highest potential, hopefully get to the highest position we ever have done in the Premier League and we’re confident we can keep our best people here for as long as possible.

“But you can never say anything is guaranteed in football and we’re certainly going to work hard to keep the best people here. First of all, we know it’s going to happen so we have to prepare for it as best as we can in advance. We try and bring more young players into the club, we try and look for where we’re potentially most vulnerable in terms of outgoings, and then we try to create the best possible environment we can for our own players so they want to stay here.

“I think every club these days is a selling club to some extent, even the biggest clubs sometimes get tempted by unbelievable offers for their players. Our challenge is to make sure that when we do lose players we’ve got player either already in the door, which is our ideal position, or coming back very quickly after them.

“That’s what we’ll keep trying to do, we’ll keep recruiting as we have done and hopefully building value for the club for the future.”

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Jurgen Klopp highlights’catastrophic’experience as Liverpool squad issued challenge

Jurgen Klopp has challenged his Liverpool players to ensure momentum going into the new season by continuing to build on their strong end to the current campaign.

The Reds will aim to register a fifth consecutive Premier League win for the first time in more than a year when they host Brentford on Saturday evening.

While Klopp’s side have lost only two of their last 12 top-flight matches, they remain unlikely to force their way into the Champions League qualification berths with only four to play. The Reds have played a game more than both third-placed Newcastle United and Manchester United in fourth, who they trail by six and four points respectively.

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Nevertheless, Liverpool could yet finish on 71 points, which would surpass their total in finishing third two seasons ago after a similar campaign disrupted by injury and loss of form.

And when asked if a strong end to the season could improve chances of signing new players in the summer, Klopp instead focused on the impact it can have on those members of the squad already at the club for next term.

“Everything is important,” said the Liverpool boss. “As an example, Curtis Jones – it is not his fault it was a catastrophic season for him because he was injured. No-one knew, he didn’t know when it happened, he was like, ‘I felt something but I had worse things when a muscle was painful or whatever’. We scanned it and he is out for four months and then you sit and wait.

“While he is not playing people say forget him, but now he is playing and playing good. Each performance we have now helps us and helps the players. We cannot replace the whole team, and how I understand life is if you have a problem you sort it better now because if you just move on you have the same problem.

“We have to give the boys a frame where they can perform because I see them every day. I know they want to perform, it is not that they say, ‘I cannot do that anymore’. We were not able to do it, that is true, for a long period, but we will find a frame where the boys can shine again. That is much more likely for them to be the best version of themselves again, that is what we always try and everything we do well now will help us for next season.

“These last five games, I like the reaction in moments, it is not full games and I am thinking we couldn’t have played better, but the signs I saw are really promising and I am happy with that. Another four games, a break then a proper pre-season and we will be strong.”

With Liverpool playing their third home game in seven days, Klopp is likely to rotate his resources with Andy Robertson poised to return at left-back in place of Kostas Tsimikas. Jordan Henderson is a major doubt in midfield, with Harvey Elliott and James Milner vying to replace the skipper should he miss out.

In attack, Cody Gakpo could return after being rested to the bench in the 1-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday, although Diogo Jota continues to be troubled by back and rib problems. Thiago Alcantara has joined Stefan Bajectic and Calvin Ramsay in being ruled out for the remainder of the season, while Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita are still sidelined.

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