Jurgen Klopp convinced Liverpool can deal with the pressure of Premier League top four battle

Klopp's Liverpool side have lost a number of important matches when the pressure was on, but the manager has insisted his team are mentally strong enough to finish in the top-four

Klopp thinks this season has been a successful one for Liverpool (Getty)

Jurgen Klopp has angrily hit back at claims that his Liverpool side cannot handle pressure, instead claiming that his team tend to perform better when the odds are stacked against them.

Liverpool have had another enigmatic season and currently sit 3rd in the table despite dropping points against a number of teams far lower than them in the Premier League table.

With three games remaining, Liverpool enjoy a four-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester United, although they have played a game in more.

On paper, Liverpool have one of the best run-ins of the four teams still fighting for the remaining two Champions League places, with eminently winnable matches against Southampton, West Ham and Middlesbrough remaining.

But the club’s habit of losing big matches under Klopp — including the League Cup and Europa League finals last season, as well as the League Cup semi-final tie against Southampton this season — had led some to question whether Liverpool will have the necessary steel to win their remaining matches and seal a spot in the top four.

Klopp, however, feels that is unfair, instead claiming that his team have a habit of increasing their performance levels in the biggest matches.

“Since I have been here we have had just one semi-final defeat,” Klopp said at his weekly news conference, ahead of the Southampton match.

“We had a very good performance against City in the final — so that was not about not handling pressure well. Yes, we did not win the shoot-out but if this is about not handling pressure I do not know what you think it says about the English teams over the years. Everybody would say that is more luck than pressure.

“So the team has no issue with handling pressure. We talk about one game and then forget five or six other games where we handled pressure really well. So far I haven’t seen a sign that we cannot handle pressure. In fact, I actually thought that when we had pressure we are always at our best.”

Liverpool have a relatively routine run-in (Getty)

Klopp also said that Liverpool are well-placed to beat Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal to third-place and that the club’s demand for “the biggest dreams” meant that a top-four finish is something of a necessity.

“Liverpool must always follow the biggest dreams,” Klopp added. “There are moments when it was difficult but we kept on going. When we lost we came back. We’ve come through difficult games – West Brom, Stoke, Watford. Okay we lost to Crystal Palace, but this is what I talk about when I talk of the development of the whole club.

“We are still kind of new. Not new enough that there is no expectation. We have a lot of expectation. But now is the moment to go for it. If it does not work we will speak about it after the season, but we have the strongest competitors around in the world.”

Klopp is confident Liverpool can hang on to their top-four position (Getty)

The Liverpool manager also gave an update on the future of Emre Can, who scored the only goal in the club’s recent 1-0 win over Watford with an acrobatic overhead volley.

And Klopp said that he hoped the project Liverpool are currently embarking upon would convince Can that his future remains with the club.

“Yes, of course. There are two sides,” Klopp said. “He is a very young player and of course other clubs will be interested in him, but we are now one of the most exciting projects in this moment. I would say this is a big squad with a good squad that will have a better squad next season.

“We are in a really good way with a good young group together, many at the best age. We offer a lot – not only money – as a club and I think that makes it interesting for a player.”