Jurgen Klopp admits failure to finish in top four could cost Liverpool top transfer targets

Ahead of crunch clash with Chelsea, Reds manager says the financial pressure to qualify for Champions League is always there and that this season is no different

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates the own goal by Kean Bryan that made it 2-0 in their Premier League win against Sheffield United on February 28. PA

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Trent Alexander-Arnold, right, and Sadio Mane at Bramall Lane. AP

Roberto Firmino's defelcted effort heads towards the Sheffield United net to make it 2-0. PA

Roberto Firmino celebrates. Reuters

Liverpool's Curtis Jones celebrates scoring his side's first goal. AP

Jones celebrates scoring. Reuters

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. AP

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah after a missed chance. Reuters

Roberto Firmino's shot is deflected into the net to seal Liverpool's win. Reuters

Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder gives directions to his players. AP

Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale attaempt to block a shot by Firmino. AP

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Liverpool could find it harder to land their preferred transfer targets if they fail to qualify for the Champions League but denied he is under any extra pressure to get a top-four finish this year because of the financial implications.

Liverpool were already projected to lose about £100 million ($139m) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but the 2019 Champions League winners and 2018 runners-up are now on course to miss out on next season’s competition.

They and Chelsea have contested two Champions League semi-finals in the last 20 years and are not accustomed to meeting in sixth and fifth but face each other on Thursday with the loser facing an uphill battle to break into the top four.

“I think a week ago we were out [of the reckoning], now we are around again so for us the challenge is clear,” said Klopp. His side have suffered six league defeats in 2021 but said Fenway Sports Group have been supportive.

“It is not that the owners called me and said that if you don’t qualify for Champions League then this or that will happen because we are all together and we all understand the situation,” he added.

But when he joined Liverpool in 2015, they were only in the Europa League and then they did not play in continental competition in his first full season.

Klopp has denied his side need a "massive rebuild" in the summer but after Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara were the only major acquisitions in the last two summers, Liverpool are likely to have more ambitious plans which could be stymied if they lack the money and the pulling power the Champions League offers.

“The main reason for qualifying is it is a great competition to play in,” Klopp said. “You want to excite some players to join. In the beginning, we were sitting with players who had always played in the Champions League and it was: ‘Sorry, we can only offer nothing or the Europa League.’ But it is always about finances and this year will be no different, it is always very important, absolutely.”

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Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0: player ratings

CHELSEA RATINGS: Eduoard Mendy - 5: Punched away Rashford free-kick after 14 minutes when he should have caught it. Was the hour mark before had to make another serious save, a decent block from a McTominay shot despite a crowded box in front of the Senegalese goalkeeper. Spilled simple James ball into middle in last quarter-of-an-hour, but recovered to gather quickly. Can look very unconvincing on crosses. AP

Antonio Rudiger - 8: Surging 40-metre run with ball down left in first five minutes in sign of early Chelsea intent. Brilliant turn and switch of play out to Hudson-Odoi on right in move that almost saw Giroud head home. Strong defensively as well. AFP

Andreas Christensen - 7: Strolled through first half when United’s attacking threat was minimal and while had a little bit more to do after half-time, never really looked in trouble. Reuters

Cesar Azpilcueta - 7: Fine supporting run down right followed by lay-off to set-up chance for Hudson-Odoi in first half. Like rest of Blues back three, very solid performance. Getty

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 7: Nervy moment quarter-of-an-hour in when ball hit his hand in box but referee Stuart Attwell decided no penalty after checking out pitch-side monitor. Volleyed just wide of target with decent effrt five minutes later after exchanging passes with Azpilcueta. Fine ball into box centimetres from Giroud’s head. Forced off at half-time due to injury. EPA

N’Golo Kante - 8: Started ahead of Jorginho to keep close tabs on United dangerman Fernandes. Good block on Portuguese’s long range effort just before half-time. Stole another chance off laces of Rashford minutes later. Frenchman is a monster at breaking up play. AP

Mateo Kovacic - 8: Read play really well in a congested middle of the park and, as usual, kept things simple and covers ground so quickly. Curled a couple of weak efforts straight at De Gea in second half. AFP

Ben Chilwell - 7: Replaced Alonso at left-back and looked to get forward from first minute. Lots of surging runs down left and one of those, followed by good cut-back at start of second half, set-up Ziyech for great chance to open scoring. Booked for rash lunge on Greenwood. Reuters

Hakim Ziyech - 5: In starting line-up ahead of Werner as Tuchel gives German “a little break” and had Chelsea’s first shot on target – a weak effort straight at De Gea. A comically bad pass out for throw-in where he thought Hudson-Odoi should be and one or two other sloppy moments in possession. Better after half-time without ever looking particularly dangerous although was denied goal when shot was well saved by De Gea a couple of minutes into second half. Reuters

Mason Mount - 7: Relentless running and pressing which would delight his manager. Excellent driving run into United box just after hour mark needed last-ditch challenge by McTominay to prevent shot on goal. Chelsea’s main attacking threat in second half. AP

Olivier Giroud - 5: Failed to take advantage of dire De Gea kick out when French attacker rashly smashed high and wide with finish that had his manager calling for more composure. Very close to getting head on end of perfect Hudson-Odoi cross after 35 minutes but could only crash into post rather than ball. Midweek hero against Atletico Madrid was taken off with 25 minutes to go here. EPA

SUBS: Reece James – (On for Hudson-Odoi 46’) 6: Given long talking to by Tuchel on sideline before coming on. Manager will have been disappointed, though, as James failed to offer same attacking danger down right as man he replaced, until last 10 minutes when one fine cross into middle nearly found Werner. Reuters

Christian Pulisic – (On for Giroud 65’) 6: Lovely touch drew foul out of Maguire that earned United captain yellow card. Skied one chance over bar when allowed time to shoot by United’s defence. EPA

Timo Werner – (On for Ziyech 78’) N/A. One tame shot straight at De Gea from tight angle and failed to get on end of great James cross after Lindelof interception. Reuters

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7: Barely tested in the first half, but was lucky not to be punished by Giroud when his miss-kick landed straight at Frenchman's feet in first half. Smart save with his arm from Ziyech just after half-time. AP

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 5: Pushed right up but clunky in challenges and conceded possession. Should have got back quicker for chance which led to Ziyech shot, but pulled ball back to set up McTominay on hour mark. Reuters

Victor Lindelof - 7: One quality long pass towards the corner which was picked up by Shaw. More advanced than usual, but stretched by crosses from Hudson-Odoi towards Giroud in first half. Blocked one Kante shot and produced outstanding clearance to get in ahead of Werner in last 10 minutes.

Harry Maguire - 6: Played very high against Chelsea and the less than rapid Giroud. Booked for a needless challenge with 12 minutes left against Pulisic in what is now the fourth successive 0-0 against a top team. Maguire needs to lead them to a win soon. PA

Luke Shaw - 7: Like Wan Bissaka, pushed up even higher than the central pair. Dangerous towards end of first half and important block in second. Reuters

Scott McTominay - 6: Back from injury and rusty in opening exchanges, but, like his team, settled towards the end of the first half. Struck decent shot on the hour as United came alive after a period of Chelsea pressure. Blocked a fine Mount solo attack and protected defence well. Reuters

Fred - 6: Combative performance. Neat passing in the middle. Tried step over as he ran towards goal, but few expect a goal when Fred goes towards it. Booked for a heavy challenge on Mount. Decent curling shot wide on 67 minutes ... he’s getting closer. AFP

Daniel James - 6: Limped off against Real Sociedad but in-form and deserved selection. One good cross was the highlight of his first half. Neat interplay with Greenwood to set him up with chance and did so again with a super low cross after 75 minutes. AP.

Bruno Fernandes - 6 Talked up by Tuchel pre-match but struggled to make an impact and gave possession away a couple of times in the first half. Headed ball towards Rashford at end of lively, entertaining opening 45 minutes where United grew stronger. Took frustrations out on referee but was his own final passes were poor. Needs to stand out more against the best but he’s been at club for more than a year and still unbeaten away from home in the league. PA

Marcus Rashford - 6 - Early free-kick hit target from distance, but limited until end of the first half when was more effective on left with Shaw. Good ball to Greenwood on 51. Weak shot on goal just after hour. EPA

Mason Greenwood - 5: The main striker in a 4-2-3-1 but, aside from the controversial penalty rejection in the first half, ploughed a lonely furrow. Neat move with James for 59th minute shot on goal was his best effort of game. EPA

Anthony Martial - (On for Greenwood 77') NA. Out of form striker couldn’t break the stalemate. EPA

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Klopp faces Thomas Tuchel, a successor of his at both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, for the first time in the Premier League and said: “He has a much better record than I had with Mainz, winning much more Bundesliga games. I think he is an outstanding coach and manager.”

Liverpool have lost their last four games at Anfield but should have a stronger squad as they seek to end their worst home run since 1923.

Alisson is available again after missing Sunday’s win at Sheffield United for compassionate reasons after the death of his father while Jota, who has not played since December after first injury and then a stomach bug, could feature.

Fabinho is also back, giving Klopp the decision whether to keep the new-look centre-back partnership of Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips or to play the Brazilian in his best position. “If we can find a way to bring Fab back in midfield that would be in some games quite helpful,” he said.

Fabinho will also be an issue in the international break when Liverpool’s three Brazil internationals and the Portuguese winger Jota could be called up by their national teams to travel to ‘red-list countries’.

Anyone returning from them has to quarantine and Klopp said: “We cannot just let the boys go and sort the situation when they come back by placing our players in a 10-day quarantine in a hotel.

"You cannot make everyone happy at this time and we have to admit the players are paid by the clubs so it means we have to be first priority.”