JURGEN KLOPP believes this Sunday’s clash with Chelsea is the ‘most important game of his career’, with a top-four place on the line.
Even though his side have a Champions League final to look forward to, the German believes their trip to Stamford Bridge is even more crucial, looking to seal at least fourth place with a win.
Liverpool hold a comfortable six-point lead over their opponents but defeat could be disastrous for them, leaving the Blues just three points back of with a game in hand.
Klopp, who also managed Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League final in 2013, stressed just how important this weekend’s game will be, even surpassing their date with Real Madrid on May 26.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: “The most important game of my career is the Chelsea game on Sunday. That’s how it is.
“We have to do the job. If the players cannot play because the last game was too intense and the medical department tells me a break would be better … if I asked though they would probably say a break would be better for everyone.
“It’s clear we can make life easier for us if we get a result at Chelsea, we try everything to be 100 per cent ready.”
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Liverpool suffered a 4-2 defeat at Roma on Wednesday but reached the final in Kyiv regardless, by virtue of a 7-6 aggregate win.
Sadio Mane put them ahead before James Milner’s calamitous own goal levelled the scores on the night for the home team.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Edin Dzeko traded goals either side of half-time before a late Radja Nainggolan double threatened another dramatic European comeback from the Italians, who turned around a three-goal deficit against Barcelona in the previous round.
Their opponents, Real Madrid, also came through a scare against Bayern Munich, going through 4-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Despite having only three fit midfielders available, Klopp ruled out any possibility of resting players in the Chelsea game or on the final day of the season against Brighton.
“I see two semis again, against Chelsea and Brighton,” he said. “Very important, no chance to think about anything else.
“Of course, it’s an advantage for Chelsea not playing in midweek, but we had a big success, even if we lost the game.
“We need to be ready for Chelsea and it could be the same intensity to Rome, Chelsea need to win and we want to.”
You can follow all the action from Stamford Bridge on the Sun Sport live blog here.
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