Klopp on whether Premier League or Europa League is Liverpool’s best bet for UCL qualification

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Speaking ahead of Liverpool‘s Europa League bout with Augsburg on Thursday, Jurgen Klopp has revealed how he is weighing up the Reds’ chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

Following an underwhelming start to the season—and a distinct lack of consistency under the German coach—the Merseyside heavyweights find themselves nine points off the top four.

Indeed, despite a 6-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, Klopp’s side would need to improve their defensive solidity and their offensive reliability if they are to overhaul those ahead of them and secure qualification to the Champions League via their league position.

However, with Europa League winners now sealing a spot in the Champions League, Klopp has admitted that the Reds’ European campaign this season arguably represents a better route to the UCL than the EPL.

“I cannot say now, ‘This is our only chance of being in the Champions League’. It’s a chance,” the former Borussia Dortmund manager began, speaking in his pre-match press conference [quotes via the Mirror].

“How many points in the league are we away from the Champions League? I think it is nine. So, yeah, at this moment I would say we have a better chance this way at the moment.”

Klopp will know Liverpool’s opponents Augsburg well following his time in German football under BVB. The Bundesliga side enjoyed perhaps the finest year in their history last season when they secured an unlikely qualifying berth for the Europa League, but they have struggled to maintain the same form this term.

Indeed, they sit 15th in the Bundesliga table after 21 matches, having lost 10 and won only five of their matches to date this season.

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