Jurgen Klopp’s latest assessment of Liverpool’s situation naturally hints at mind games but in fact outlines a somewhat reassuring reality in the club’s pursuit of a top four spot.
Four games remain for the Reds to do what they can to consolidate a Champions League qualification place with the run-in of their close rivals posing as another potentially decisive factor.
Tonight’s clash with Watford at Vicarage will put Liverpool a game ahead of both fourth-placed Manchester City and fifth-placed Manchester United and two games ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal.
Though there appears to be an opportunity for all three teams to overtake Klopp’s side, the German is remaining calm.
“If you look at the points everything is good, if you look at the number of games played it is like, ‘oh’. It is not like it looks,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“It is easy mathematics to know what points the other teams can get, but they play against each other and all that stuff.”
“No team of the teams we fight for top four can win all the games. They play in a few moments against each other. Why should we think about it too much? I do not feel fear – not one second so far.”
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It wouldn’t quite feel right if Liverpool weren’t proving to be responsible for incredibly tense and stressed fans. A bit of drama is what this club thrives on and welcomes, even if it doesn’t always end in success.
Four games left. Four games for this talented group to display the courage and the hunger everyone knows it has. Four games for these players to ensure they earn the Champions League place they deserve.
Klopp’s men have been far better than the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal this season. It is up to them to truly make it count now.