Liverpool step up preparations for Brighton clash as they look to seal final Champions League place

Jurgen Klopp was all smiles during Liverpool training on Friday despite their Champions League place for next season hanging in the balance.

The German watched on at Melwood as his Reds prepared for their final Premier League game of the season against Brighton this Sunday.

Liverpool need only a draw against an already-safe Brighton will secure fourth place and another year of football in Europe’s elite competition as Chelsea look to snatch a top four spot at the death.

The Reds are preparing for their final league game against Brighton on Sunday

‘It’s the last game of the Premier League season, so it’s a big one,’ Klopp said according to Liverpool’s official Twitter account. ‘There are many big moments when people can be really proud and happy to be a supporter of this club. On Sunday, we have to deliver again.’

Liverpool are unbeaten at Anfield in the league this season and face the top flight’s second worst team away from home in the Seagulls. The odds are stacked in their favour.

While top four is a priority, should Brighton pull off an unlikely upset on Merseyside, Klopp can gain entry via the Champions League final which they will contest with Real Madrid at the end of this month.

Klopp’s side can secure the final Champions League place by avoiding defeat at Anfield

Sadio Mane stretches as he and his team-mates warm up for Friday’s training session

Roberto Firmino limbers up for the session by performing some dynamic stretches

Club captain Jordan Henderson is put through his paces as Danny Ings follows close behind

Striker Ings smiles as he passes the ball to a team-mate during the training session 

Central defender Dejan Lovren pings the ball around during a warm up drill

Youngster Curtis Jones is left in hysterics during the training session on Friday morning

And with this in mind, one player was a welcome sight on the training ground. That being Adam Lallana of course.

The England international has seen his season marred by consistent hamstring trouble that had even put his World Cup place at risk. 

However, the 30-year-old looked a refreshed figure on the training pitch.

‘Adam has trained as normal for about a week or so,’ Klopp commented. ‘It’s been a long time with no football, but Adam is Adam. He looks quite okay to be honest.

‘He is as fit as possible.’ 

PFA and Sportswriter’s Player of the Year Mohamed Salah is another with good cause to be content with life at present.

The Egyptian trained on Friday knowing he is on the verge of sealing the Premier League Golden Boot – bar a miracle turnaround from Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

Adam Lallana was a welcome sight on Liverpool’s Melwood training ground

The England international trained on Friday after recovering from a Hamstring injury

Kane needs to score four goals on Sunday as Spurs face Watford and for Salah to endure a scoreless afternoon at Anfield, something that has rarely happened this season. On only 12 occasions, in fact, has Salah failed to score in the league.

Having failed to find the net in his last two games, he will be eager to go out with a bang after a show-stopping return season to the Premier League. 

With all this said, Klopp admires his star man, but refused to praise an individual. Instead, he preferred to divert attention to the matter at hand. 

‘I think he deserved all the awards he got but I’m absolutely not in the mood to talk about individuals,’ he said.

‘I am in the mood to talk about Brighton. The things he did speak for themselves.’ 

Mohamed Salah lets out a subtle grin as he closes in on the Premier League Golden Boot

The PFA Player of the Year boasts a three-goal advantage over Tottenham’s Harry Kane