Race for Champions League:
Liverpool prepare for their final game of the season against Brighton this Sunday. Following Huddersfield’s draw against Chelsea, the reds need a draw to qualify for the Champions League next season.
During his last press conference, Klopp warned against complacency:
“We need to be completely focused on that game, we will be. Yesterday I was at our LFC awards – good timing – and a lot of people wished me luck for the [final on the] 26th. Two or three people wished me luck for Sunday.
It’s all about the next challenge. It is the last game of the Premier League season, so it’s a big one.
“There are plenty of moments when everybody could be really happy, proud of this team. But on Sunday we have to deliver again, all of us.
It is not a farewell thing on Sunday, it is a proper competition against a strong team. Having no pressure can be quite positive. That is how it is. A lot things can happen in football.”
Team News:
Liverpool have welcomed back Adam Lallana back to full training as he recovered from a hamstring injury late March. Lallana has been back in training for a week and could feature in the game against Brighton from the bench. The news comes as a positive for Jurgen Klopp who has been struck with injuries two weeks before the Champions League Final in Kiev.
Emre Can’s hopes of returning for the club have been dashed after the German had failed to return to full fitness. It’s possible that Emre Can has played his last ever game for Liverpool as his contract expires in the summer with the midfielder potentially joining Italian champions Juventus.
Jurgen Klopp has also praised Trent Alexander-Arnold for his performances this season and believes the youngster is ready for the summer World Cup.
Klopp: I’m obviously a fan of Trent, that’s why he played pretty often – not because of that, because he performed on a really high level. So I am not Gareth Southgate, but if he needs a good player who can play right full-back and maybe another position as well then I think he would be a good choice.”
