Klopp makes Liverpool exit admission after struggles continue with Chelsea draw

04 April 2023 , 21:51

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Jurgen Klopp suggested he'd quit Liverpool if the Reds suffer another season as difficult as this.

Liverpool have been off-colour all season and are currently eighth in the Premier League - a staggering 29 points behind table-toppers Arsenal and seven behind Tottenham in the final Champions League spot.

The Reds were battered by champions Manchester City on the weekend and Klopp was hoping for a reaction against Chelsea on Tuesday. The German made a staggering six changes to his first XI for the trip to Stamford Bridge, but his side were once again second best and lucky to take a point home from their travels.

Asked if he has experienced a season like this before, following the goalless draw, Klopp replied: "No, thank God. I wouldn't be manager of Liverpool if I had a couple of these seasons.

"We have to get through it. That's how life is. You have to fight to change your fortunes."

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He added: "Both teams played last year in two finals, two of the best 0-0s I ever saw. Today it was two teams low on confidence but really fighting. We’re fine with a point, a lot of good stuff. We showed a lot of fight. We have to keep going.

"We struggled with the last line in the beginning but changed three times. The balls in behind were tricky but then we recovered well. We got better into the game.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool picked up a point from Stamford Bridge (Frank Augstein/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

"The midfield was well-connected. We had our opportunities up front. It was not speculator. It was a step. That’s what we have to do – make steps. Sometimes smaller steps.

"We need to have these chances. You need to keep having chances. I'm not disappointed about that. They scored twice but both goals were disallowed.

"I didn't expect a team with six changes to play the best game of the season. The boys who came in used their opportunity and showed they were ready.

"We cannot talk about the goals we have if we don't get points. We don't give up, we will fight. We can talk a lot but we have to show. We saw a step in the right direction tonight. Some needed a rest."

Klopp dropped Mohamed Salah, full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott from his starting line up to face Chelsea, with Virgil van Dijk missing out through injury.

Joe Gomez came in at right-back with Konstantinos Tsimikas on the left and Joel Matip at centre-back. Darwin Nunez reclaimed a place up top while Roberto Firmino - who is leaving at the end of the season - was named in the number 10 role.

But the shake-up did little to spur a reaction from the Reds, who were second best to a wasteful Chelsea side being managed by Bruno Saltor for the first time, following Graham Potter's sacking.

Saltor said of the match: "It's difficult to enjoy, sad, disappointing, I'm trying to focus on being the best version of myself, help the boys."