Title-chasing Spurs in Liverpool final- Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has piled the pressure on Tottenham, saying that Saturday’s game is like a final for them.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side trail Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester, who host Southampton on Sunday, by five points but with seven matches remaining they cannot afford any slip-ups.

Spurs’ record at Anfield is poor, with just four wins in the last 69 league meetings on Merseyside, and, although Klopp’s side are inconsistent at home with just five league wins this season, he has put the pressure firmly on the visitors.

“Usually it is not important for us to think about the situation of the other team, but in this special case I think it makes sense to know about it,” he said.

“If I were not the manager of Liverpool maybe I could enjoy the stories of Leicester and Tottenham more.

“This is a pretty good year to become champion because a lot of clubs who fight for this title are usually not involved. There is pressure for teams at the top and we will see who handles it better.

“This is the decisive third for Tottenham and if you want to become champion of the Premier League, for Tottenham especially, this year is a good opportunity.

“No-one knows what will happen to Tottenham next year, if players leave or not. This year they have a good situation with injuries – no important players were really injured.

“Maybe for Tottenham it is like a final. They have to win it to put pressure on Leicester.

“If you know about the pressure you want to use this: when Tottenham play against Liverpool, it is usually not a birthday party – it is a hard fight. It will be a high-intensity game and we have to use this.”

Report by football365.com