Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool’s ‘crazy run’ of wins which has put them in the European places

Jurgen Klopp turned up the heat on Newcastle and Manchester United as Liverpool moved within a point of the Champions League spots by crushing relegation-threatened Leicester.

Liverpool registered their seventh consecutive victory, securing qualification for European football in the process, thanks to Curtis Jones’ first-half double and a sensational strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half.

Both third-placed Newcastle and Manchester United in fourth have a game in hand on Klopp’s team, although such is Liverpool’s momentum that they are firm favourites to take maximum points from their final two games against Aston Villa and Southampton.

‘I have been in that position before,’ said Klopp. ‘You hope the team chasing you loses, and you have that pressure off your shoulders. We have had it in the past, where we have had to win and win and win.

‘I expect Newcastle and Manchester United to do the same but our form keeps them on their toes and that’s our job. We have a super difficult game against Aston Villa at the weekend.

Curtis Jones got two of the visitors’ goals as they beat Leicester City 3-0 on Monday night

‘But we have qualified for Europe, which six or seven weeks ago I didn’t believe could happen. There was only one chance to get there, by winning all the games, and that’s what we’ve done. It’s crazy.’

Leicester are two points adrift and could be relegated if Everton win at Wolves on Saturday and the Foxes lose at Newcastle next Monday. They were chants of ‘We are going down’ and ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ from the home fans, many of whom left long before the final whistle.

Dean Smith said: ‘I wouldn’t question our fight or attitude but if you lose at home when you’re fighting relegation, I understand why fans react in certain ways. I still believe we will stay up.’