LIVERPOOL, May 13: Jurgen Klopp has challenged Liverpool to use the pain of their failed Premier League title bid as fuel to finish a remarkable season with Champions League glory.
Liverpool fell one point short of winning their first league title since 1990 as Manchester City pipped Klopp�s side on the final day of the season.
Liverpool�s 2-0 win over Wolves was rendered irrelevant by City�s 4-1 victory at Brighton, leaving the Anfield faithful frustrated after it briefly appeared they might witness two football miracles in the space of a week.
Tuesday�s astonishing 4-0 win against Barcelona, which overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit and sent Liverpool to their second successive Champions League final, was one of the greatest nights in the club�s history.
And when Sadio Mane put Liverpool ahead early on against Wolves and City fell behind to Glenn Murray�s goal, another unthinkable dream was about to become reality.
That tantalising moment lasted only a matter of seconds, however, as Sergio Aguero equalised for City, who went onto shatter Liverpool�s hopes with a ruthless goal-spree.
It was cruel on Liverpool, who secured 30 wins and 97 points, setting a standard that would have secured the title in any year but the last two, with Pep Guardiola�s sensational City amassing 100 points 12 months ago and 98 this term.
Yet Klopp insists his players won�t dwell on their agonising near-miss for long because they have a chance for redemption in the Champions League final against Tottenham in Madrid on June 1.
�We have qualified for the Champions League final. That is special. This team is one of the best that ever played for Liverpool, 100 per cent,� Klopp said.
�If I would start telling you all the positive things about this team we would be here until an hour before the Champions League final.
�This club is in the best moment for a long time and it will not end because another team has one more point.
�If we are ready to make the next step, we will. That is the plan from tomorrow.� While Klopp is confident Liverpool can bring home the club�s sixth European Cup and first since 2005, even if they do triumph in Madrid the German doesn�t believe his team are at the peak of their powers yet.
�I am not worried that this is as good as it can be. This team is not the finished article,� he said.
�We had an unbelievable season. I can read all the numbers. It would be nice to get an award for the biggest development I can remember.
�We made a big step. But really think there is more to come. We will go again.�
Reeling in City won�t be a piece of cake for Klopp and the 51-year-old conceded Guardiola�s group present a unique challenge. � AFP
