Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool have not been good enough for top-four finish
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accepted his side have not been good enough to qualify for the Champions League this season. A 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa not only ended a nine-match winning run but also made their outside hopes of making the top-four even more remote. They would have to win their final match at Southampton and rely on Newcastle or Manchester United not picking up another point from their remaining two games, an outcome Klopp admits is not going to happen. “I think the whole season is rather a season where we qualify for Europa League than for Champions League,” he said. “We were for too long not good enough or ourselves.” While the draw was a disappointment there was, at least, a memorable end as Roberto Firmino, who is leaving the club after eight influential years, came off the bench to score at the Kop end in the 89th minute to cancel out Jacob Ramsey’s first-half effort. Firmino was not the only one saying goodbye to Anfield as James Milner and fellow midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who were not in the matchday squad, are also departing when their contracts end next month and it added to an emotional but frustrating afternoon. “This day was not an easy day for us – no excuse for anything, it just was not easy because we all love these four boys,” added Klopp. “The first half was not great I would say. We were too much in a rush in both departments, with the ball, without the ball. We were for too long not good enough or ourselves Jurgen Klopp “Our pressing was not good, you could see we wanted but the timing was ‘Wow. ‘Who is where?’ That was not helpful. “They (Villa) had moments in the game and they are a good football team obviously. “It was clear in the second half we have to calm down, increase the pressure but calm down in the right areas, and that’s what we did and then you could see the whole game was for Aston Villa super-intense as well.” Villa boss Unai Emery was satisfied with the performance, despite the late disappointment of conceding an equaliser. His side moved above Tottenham and will secure European football with victory over Brighton in their final match next week. “You can analyse 90 minutes in different ways,” Emery said. “I think the first half we played very well but we played well because to play to avoid the high press is not easy and to play with the personality we did is not easy. “To have got three points would have been fantastic, we defended very well and our commitment was fantastic. “I’ve played here before and I know what a difficult match it is here at Anfield. They were in their best moment of the season, confident, trying to get top four.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Nottingham Forest upset Arsenal to clinch safety and hand Manchester City title Ollie Robinson becomes latest injury worry for England ahead of summer Tests Manchester City win Premier League after Arsenal lose at Nottingham Forest
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Manchester City win 2022/23 Premier League title
Manchester City have won the 2022/23 Premier League title.
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93-year-old woman and grandson complete journey to all 63 US national parks
Brad Ryan and his grandmother Joy Ryan set out on a journey to visit all 63 national parks seven and a half years ago. This week they completed their goal when they arrived at the National Park of American Samoa.
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La Rochelle retain Champions Cup after stunning fightback
La Rochelle launched a stunning fightback from 17-0 down to edge out Leinster 27-26 and retain the Champions Cup in a dramatic...
1970-01-01 08:00
Horse trained by Bob Baffert euthanized on track after racing injury on Preakness undercard
A horse trained by Bob Baffert has been euthanized on the track after going down with injury and unseating his jockey during a race on the Preakness undercard
1970-01-01 08:00
Weeks before graduating high school, he was shot and paralyzed. 7 years later, he walked across the stage to accept his college degree
Seven years ago, the chance to walk at graduation was stripped from Khalil Watson, a Virginia man who was paralyzed from the neck down after being shot weeks before finishing high school.
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TikTok creators are suing Montana over the ban
Montana banned TikTok and creators within the state are fighting back. Last week, Montana Governor
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Spanish princess Leonor graduates from UWC Atlantic College in Wales
King Felipe VI of Spain went to his daughter's graduation ceremony at the college in Llantwit Major.
1970-01-01 08:00
Congo security forces fire tear gas at anti-government protesters
By Ange Kasongo KINSHASA (Reuters) -Democratic Republic of Congo security forces fired tear gas and fought running battles in the
1970-01-01 08:00
Christian McCaffrey clarifies, didn’t mean to shade Panthers when he shaded Panthers
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is walking back an earlier comment he made about his ex-team -- probably for the good karma.San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey appears to be enjoying life on his new team, but he doesn't want to seemtoohappy about it.The star running bac...
1970-01-01 08:00
Erik ten Hag hails Casemiro’s ‘massive’ contribution to Manchester United cause
Erik ten Hag says Casemiro has exceeded expectations since arriving at Manchester United after his goal to beat Bournemouth took the team to within a point of Champions League qualification. The 1-0 win puts United on the brink of a return to Europe’s top club competition next season, with Liverpool’s draw against Aston Villa meaning Ten Hag’s side need only a draw from their final two games. Casemiro’s brilliantly improvised strike was the difference at the Vitality Stadium, the Brazilian finishing off Christian Eriksen’s cross with a wonderful overhead volley after nine minutes. United were not at their best but did enough to contain Bournemouth, who went close to levelling late on through Kieffer Moore after David De Gea had denied them with a string of reflex saves. Ten Hag’s team need only to avoid defeat against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday to ensure they will go into the final game with their objective in the league this season secured before turning attentions to the FA Cup final. The manager singled out match-winner Casemiro’s contributions as being key on the south coast and throughout his time at the club. “He keeps surprising us, Casemiro,” said Ten Hag. “He’s such a brilliant football player. We know him as very good (at) organisation, positioning, anticipating, intercepting a lot of balls, winning duels, a fighter. Also in possession, his passing and distribution, but also finishing. Just a great football player. We’re happy we found him and his contribution is massive Erik ten Hag on Casemiro “Absolutely (he has exceeded expectations), by far. One of the things that came when we analysed, we missed a player in the midfield. We searched and it was not easy because there are not many in the profile whose standard fits the standard of Manchester United. We’re happy we found him and his contribution is massive.” United had been within minutes of wrapping up their place in the top four with two games to spare, only for a late equaliser for fifth-placed Liverpool against Villa at Anfield to ensure that, mathematically at least, Jurgen Klopp’s side remain in the hunt. But it would take a total collapse from United during the Premier League’s final week to deny them from here. If they take a point at home to Frank Lampard’s side it will render the result of the meeting with Fulham on the final day irrelevant and mean preparations can begin for the showdown with Manchester City at Wembley on June 3. Ten Hag said he had not been aware of the score at Anfield but stressed their goal had been in their own hands all along. “It’s not important, I’m telling you already for weeks it’s not about our opponents,” he said. “We are in the lead, it’s only up to us, we have everything in our hands, we don’t have to look behind. We have to make our performance. It’s nothing to do with any other team. It’s to do with the opponent on the day. “Very happy. First 25 minutes was a very good performance from our team, maybe one of the highest levels this season. It’s the way we want to play football. “Pin the opponent back, good on the ball, a lot of movements, good counter-press. Against a good team, Bournemouth, they can really play very good structures, I like them and their way of play. “You can see they’re already safe two games before the end. They didn’t have any chance to play out because we dominated them totally. We created chances and we scored a brilliant goal.” Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil, whose team went into the game already secured of their top-flight status for next season, felt the Cherries matched United on the day and reflected on his side having beaten the drop with room to spare. “I was pleased, I thought it was a good performance,” he said. “United are full-throttle at the moment and we were obviously understrength. Five key players missing, a little bit short today. I didn’t think there was much in it, our chances were as good as theirs. I don’t think anyone could have complained if Kieffer Moore had scored and it had finished 1-1. “I think everyone felt the Everton game (next week) would be pivotal. The fact that it isn’t shows what a big achievement it’s been from the players to stay up with four games to spare.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sean Dyche calls for one final push from Everton in Premier League survival bid Dean Smith turns to ‘big influence’ Jonny Evans to help Leicester’s survival bid Ryan Mason encourages little to be read into Harry Kane’s wave to Spurs fans
1970-01-01 08:00
Yankees eat the money with Aaron Hicks just days after best game in years
The Aaron Hicks headache is finally over for Yankees fans but the timing of the move could not possibly be more hilarious.Watching a month-and-a-half of Aaron Hicks suiting up for the New York Yankees when most fans would've bitten the bullet in the offseason and designated him for an assig...
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