Liverpool winning the Europa League final against Sevilla next Wednesday would render the situation irrelevant, but otherwise they may have to play West Ham in an all-or-nothing game on neutral ground.
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Klopp has rotated his team in the league when preparing for Europa League games in previous weeks, and may be tempted to play a weakened lineup in order to keep his first-choice players in shape for Wednesday’s final in Basel.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to play this final but we can not change the stadium so we can not think about this”, Klopp said. If we don’t give 100 per cent concentration, we will lose 4-0.
“It is not about having 50 per cent or 30 per cent concentration for another thing, that is not how professional football works”. We will see about Danny Ings and if he’s ready for West Brom. We have to do the job, we have a very hard game because Stoke want to finish on a high.
However, if they don’t manage that there’s a chance they could equal West Ham’s Premier League record this weekend – meaning a play-off game would have to take place for the European spot.
Both players, meanwhile, are enjoying time off the pitch but said their experience as Liverpool players would remain the most important chapter in their lives.
With that in mind, the Hammers will be determined to seal a win against Stoke City to claim European football for 2016/17 campaign – a well-deserved reward for a fantastic final season at Upton Park.
Smicer is best remembered for his role in the Liverpool team that lifted the Champions League trophy in 2005, a game that has come to be known as “Miracle in Istanbul”.
“I don’t think it is relevant but that’s just me”, the 48-year-old German told reporters when asked about Sevilla’s impressive Europa League pedigree.
Klopp has three key players on the way back from injury, and all may yet play some part against Sevilla even if the West Brom fixture comes too soon. “Now, mentally I’m fresh and everything’s okay, so hopefully my body will be right and then we’ll see”.
“We have to see”, Klopp said. Hendo has done a bit more.
West Brom, though have won just one of their nine final day Premier League matches.
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We did score and at 3-1 we were close to a second goal before they broke away and the game was definitely over.
