JURGEN KLOPP POINTS FINGER OF BLAME FOR LIVERPOOL'S STUMBLE AND MAKES TITLE ADMISSION

Jurgen Klopp says that he should take the "blame" for Liverpool's string of slip-ups at the business end of the season.

The Reds have failed to win four of their last six games in all competitions, a run which has seen them dumped out of the Europa League and lose significant ground in the battle for the Premier League title. Klopp now concedes that rivals Manchester City and Arsenal will see it as a "two-horse race," although Liverpool could go second with a win in Saturday's early kick-off at West Ham.

Liverpool, who by full-time will've played two more games than reigning champions City, are looking to get back track following Wednesday's bruising 2-0 loss away to Everton in the Merseyside Derby. Klopp explained on Friday: "We are where we are in the table because we are able to play positive football.

"In this decisive area (the end of the season), we don't play positive football - I blame myself absolutely for that. I don't know how it happened but I am responsible for the mood the team is in."

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The Liverpool manager, who'll leave his post after nine years at the end of the season, went on to say: "I will try my absolute everything that I can enjoy a little bit of our football again because that was obviously not possible in the last game, not possible at all. That's it.

"I cannot sit here and say I think they still feel us around. I'm pretty sure Arsenal and City see it now as a two-horse race. They might have to say something else publicly but they don't expect for themselves to lose two games from now on - I don't expect them to do that. If they do it, we would be completely silly if we would then not be around."

Having won the Carabao Cup in February and been in the hunt for three more trophies heading towards the all-important run-in, defeats to Manchester United, Atalanta, Crystal Palace and Everton across the remaining competitions have derailed Klopp's farewell tour.

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Asked how he'll look back on his final season if there are no more surprises and City or Arsenal end up lifting the title, the Reds boss replied: "I would not assess it now. I have no clue.

"I am not in the mood to give up, to wave the white flag, these kind of things. I just think we have to look first after ourselves, just make sure we play better football. I said after the game, why should a team who plays like us against Everton, why should we be champions?

"But the football we played before, a lot of good stuff, surprisingly good stuff. In January we looked invincible, undefeatable, with a deflated squad with real problems. But everybody went in the same direction, go for it, we were a real pain for everybody, squeezed out results or played really well. Everything was kind of a mix of a lot of things."

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2024-04-26T14:43:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd