Jurgen Klopp bullish regarding Liverpool's Champions League hopes despite nonsensical defending

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Reds will 'try everything' in order to qualify for the Champions League after their hopes of returning to Europe's premier club competition were dashed by Crystal Palace on Sunday (23 April).

A brace from Christian Benteke guided a resurgent Palace to a 2-1 at Anfield after a wondrous Philippe Coutinho free-kick had given Liverpool the lead. The loss means Klopp's side can be ushered out of the top four if Manchester United and Manchester City win their games in hand, but the German is by no means ready to wave the white flag.

"I know there are a lot of people around thinking, 'Oh my God, Champions League slips through our fingers again', but only if we let it slip," Klopp told Sky Sports. "We have to try everything and we will try everything. Our job is to squeeze everything out of the season we can squeeze. Obviously it is not easy for us, that is not a surprise."

Klopp went on to praise match-winner Benteke, who came back to haunt his old club. The Belgium international did not enjoy the most fruitful of spells on Merseyside and but was branded 'outstandingly good' by Klopp, who was left to rue his side's poor defending for the Palace forward's first goal.

"Christian Benteke is an outstandingly good striker, absolutely no doubt about it," the Liverpool boss added. "But if you leave him alone like we did for the first goal I am not sure he needed all his skills for this goal. It makes no sense to leave him alone. For the second goal just one player reacted and that is our mistake."

Liverpool face a long wait to try and right the wrongs of Sunday; the Reds travel to Watford next Monday with the hope of strengthening their grip on a top four position, but they do not have the fondest memories of Vicarage Road after being pulverised 3-0 in the same fixture last season.