Jurgen Klopp believes that Liverpool have ‘closed the slipping book’ after safely navigating their way to a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Anfield in their title charge.
Klopp’s side remain two points clear at the top of the table thanks to a crucial victory, hours after Manchester City’s 3-1 win away to Crystal Palace.
City have a game in hand on the challengers and will retain their title if they win all of their remaining games.
It is likely that Liverpool will have do the same, starting away to relegation-threatened Cardiff City next weekend, with a maximum total of 97 points available.
Prior to Sunday’s win, meanwhile, much of the build-up focused on a 2014 meeting at Anfield when Steven Gerrard’s fatal slip against Chelsea saw Liverpool’s title bid collapse.
1/22 Alisson – 7
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2/22 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
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3/22 Joel Matip – 6
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4/22 Virgil van Dijk – 8
Action Images via Reuters
5/22 Andrew Robertson – 6
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6/22 Fabinho – 7
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7/22 Jordan Henderson – 8
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8/22 Naby Keita – 8
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9/22 Mohamed Salah – 8
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10/22 Roberto Firmino – 6
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11/22 Sadio Mané – 8
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12/22 Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
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13/22 Cesar Azpilicueta – 7
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14/22 Antonio Rudiger – 6
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15/22 David Luiz – 6
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16/22 Emerson Palmeiri – 4
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17/22 Jorginho – 5
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18/22 N’Golo Kanté – 7
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19/22 Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 6
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20/22 Willian – 6
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21/22 Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6
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22/22 Eden Hazard – 5
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1/22 Alisson – 7
AP
2/22 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
AFP/Getty Images
3/22 Joel Matip – 6
Action Images via Reuters
4/22 Virgil van Dijk – 8
Action Images via Reuters
5/22 Andrew Robertson – 6
Action Images via Reuters
6/22 Fabinho – 7
EPA
7/22 Jordan Henderson – 8
AFP/Getty Images
8/22 Naby Keita – 8
EPA
9/22 Mohamed Salah – 8
REUTERS
10/22 Roberto Firmino – 6
Action Images via Reuters
11/22 Sadio Mané – 8
Getty Images
12/22 Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
Getty Images
13/22 Cesar Azpilicueta – 7
REUTERS
14/22 Antonio Rudiger – 6
Action Images via Reuters
15/22 David Luiz – 6
REUTERS
16/22 Emerson Palmeiri – 4
REUTERS
17/22 Jorginho – 5
PA
18/22 N’Golo Kanté – 7
AFP/Getty Images
19/22 Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 6
AFP/Getty Images
20/22 Willian – 6
AP
21/22 Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6
EPA
22/22 Eden Hazard – 5
Action Images via Reuters
When asked how his players are coping with the pressure of the run-in, Klopp said: “The biggest challenge for us is facing the world outside. You and other people.
“You asked if [City] ask questions of us. If we think about them yes, if we don’t think about them no.
“If five minutes somebody tells us before our game: ‘City lost!’ That doesn’t help. You lose your focus in that moment.
“What we want to do is collect as many points as possible. It’s 85 now, four games to play? It means 97. Good. Let’s try that.
“If that’s enough, perfect. If not, we cannot change it. And we didn’t lose it here or there.”
Liverpool could have moved seven points clear of City in late January, but drew at home to Leicester City and have since seen their rivals claw back the difference.
“Very smart people will come out and say: ‘Yeah, if you would’ve won against Leicester, then you would be champion,’” Klopp added.
“It’s all bullshit. Only weak people and idiots bring something like this up.
“And on this point, we can finally close the slipping book. Robbo slipped and nothing happened. It’s not a Liverpool thing. Done.”
