Jurgen Klopp: Top spot not crucial for Klopp and Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has described his satisfaction at winning “a big fight” following his side’s 2-1 Europa League win over Bordeaux on Thursday.

The Merseyside outfit fell behind in the 33rd minute when goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was penalised for holding onto the ball for too long.

Milner levelled it up from the penalty spot before a sublime Benteke goal guaranteed the win for the Reds who could be without Daniel Sturridge for another while.

This will be Liverpool’s eighth game in 40 days since Klopp picked up the reins at Anfield and he suggested the packed calendar may have had more to do with their last defeat on home soil in the Premier League.

Liverpool booked their place with a 2-1 win against Bordeaux at Anfield.

Sturridge hasn’t played for Liverpool since October 4 and Klopp is hoping the former Manchester City and Chelsea player will return to full fitness sooner rather than later.

“I can’t say so much about this because he trained in the morning, then we went to the hotel and Daniel was with us”, the German boss explained.

“[Finishing] top of the table is important, but not the most important thing because there are only good teams in the next round”.

Liverpool’s pivotal attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho could face a lengthy period on the sidelines, with the Mirror claiming the Brazilian’s injury is more serious than first conceived. We can now start thinking about it [Sturridge’s niggle] because we had no time before as it was really close to the game when the news came.

Midway through the first half Christian Benteke was unable to find the target before Joe Allen’s 20-yard effort drifted wide.

“I think Liverpool are in a similar position that Dortmund were in”. A few weeks ago we had three points in the group and now we have nine – wow.

Kane s decisive second half goal assured the Group J leaders qualification into the knockout stages with a game to spare.

“What is most important is having 11 players who can work and who are together on the pitch”, he said. When I am in bad situations, I have great people around supporting me.