28 February 2023 , 22:30
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Jurgen Klopp passionately believes if any club can produce a near miracle to finish in the top four: “then it is Liverpool ”.
And the Reds boss has told his struggling players AND fans they can prove they have an Anfield “future together” - by delivering Champions League football next season.
Many people have deduced from Klopp’s words in recent weeks that he plans a major clear out in the summer, after a season that had effectively ended without the prospect of a trophy by the third week of February.
Yet the lure of elite European football is still there, and Klopp made clear to his players - and critical supporters - what is required to ensure the amazing journey of recent years can continue.
"We have a future together. It's our decision how we deal with things. I know the world is a crazy place and a lot of things change, but it's still our decision,” he explained.
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“We have values and principles and all these kind of things. In our case, we don't want to be different - we ARE different as a club, as a group altogether. So, let's live that.”
And speaking about the prospect of finishing in the top four, despite trailing a Spurs team who occupy the final Champions League berth by nine points, Klopp has backed his side to pull it off. There are 15 games left and that’s 45 points. If there is a club that can do it I really think it is us. Honestly,” he explained.
Jurgen Klopp is confident his current crop of Liverpool stars can still achieve things together (Getty Images)“Because of all the things we achieved these last years we achieved together, neither without the team nor without the crowd. Nothing. We have a future together: the immediate future from tomorrow on but there is a bigger picture as well.
“We will strike back in general but now we have to make sure that we really squeeze everything out of this season that we can get.”
Klopp welcomes Wolves to Anfield on Wednesday night, still smarting from a crushing 3-0 defeat to the Black Country club three weeks ago, that prompted doom laden predictions of a complete rebuild at Anfield.
The manager has accepted there will be some changes in the summer, but he insisted that his players have the chance to prove they can still be part of that future - and he extended that to himself.
Liverpool have a chance for revenge against a Wolves side which thumped them earlier this year (Getty Images)When asked what he meant by ‘still have a future’, he said: “It was a general thing, and for a little moment I thought about myself as well. We will have a future together as well.
“Let's not forget that if you quit, who cares how you behave in the last moment. You leave the room and think you will never see them again.
“But if you know at one point you have to go back then maybe you should say goodbye at least or 'have a nice day'. That's what I was talking about.”
Klopp has a decision to make on Ibrahima Konate for the Wolves game, with the defender back in training, but needing match fitness.
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