Jürgen Klopp Wants to Keep Liverpool’s Focus on Burnley

If Liverpool win their final two games, they’re a near certainty to finish top four, but Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp doesn’t want anybody getting ahead of themselves as the Reds look to salvage their season.

For Klopp, there’s no point talking about winning two games right now or of the potential importance of the second match—not before they play the first, which for the moment at least is his only concern.

“I don’t want to speak about it,” Klopp said when asked about the club’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League by beating Crystal Palace on Sunday if they win on Wednesday against Burnley.

“It’s very important, but we can talk about what it means if we do it. We play Burnley first. I don’t like these talks like we’ve won already. It’s disrespectful. Sunday is a final for us but only if we get the result Wednesday.”

While Liverpool’s situation is broadly clear—win the final two and all the rest and any of the potential tiebreakers should take care of itself—the possibilities will be even clearer by the time they kick off tomorrow night.

Chelsea and Leicester City, the two sides the Reds are chasing, face off on Tuesday night. It means at least one will drop points, and knowing which does—or if both do—will help give the Reds further clarity.