Trent Alexander-Arnold must forget the idea of being a midfielder and focus on not being a "liability" defensively, otherwise he risks his chances with England in future.

That was the message from former England and Manchester United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, who was left unimpressed by Alexander-Arnold's defensive lapses against Arsenal.

The Liverpool right-back was caught out of position when Gabriel Martinelli crossed from the left for Gabriel Jesus to head in Arsenal's second, after Martinelli had earlier opened the scoring at Anfield on Sunday.

Alexander-Arnold would make amends by creating Roberto Firmino's late leveller in the 2-2 draw, with his sixth Premier League assist against the Gunners (only Steven Gerrard has more with seven).

But Neville, who has regularly questioned the England and Liverpool defender's abilities at the back, says Alexander-Arnold's error-laden defensive performances cannot be masked by his output going forward.

"He was absolutely sensational going forward," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. "I don't know what to say about him anymore because his defensive play is that bad.

"Some of the positions he takes up against Martinelli to defend a straight pass is schoolboy defending.

"I don't understand it. But some of his attacking play, his deliveries and his courage to get on the ball despite those mistakes has got to be admired. I admire him enormously.

"He doesn't need to become the best defender in the world. He just cannot be a liability. He doesn't have to be a great defender with the way in which he attacks. I don't think anybody is asking for that.

"You're just asking for a little bit of competence and attention to your work. The conversation will continue about him.

"I hope somehow over the summer the penny drops and he realises that his defensive work is hurting him.

"It's hurting him because he's been left out of the England squad. How can that talent be left out of an England squad?

"When you're playing for a team that is out of form such as Liverpool, those weaknesses get exposed a little bit more."

Klopp opted to utilise Alexander-Arnold as an inverted full-back when in possession, much like Oleksandr Zinchenko did for Arsenal.

Alexander-Arnold delivered in an attacking sense, with game-leading returns for final-third entries (13), chances created (four), touches (76) and passes into the opposition's third (24).

But Neville remains unsure whether Alexander-Arnold could replicate a similar showing if tasked with operating as an out-and-out midfielder.

He added: "Alexander-Arnold would drift into midfield in any case given the freedom being at right-back gives him, but if he was actually down to play in midfield away from home in the Premier League and he was getting the ball popped into him, when he's got his back to play, that's a different ball game.

"Some of the best midfielders in the world, the Xavis, [Andres] Iniestas, they're the ones who can manipulate the ball and Rodri does it very well. Trent wouldn't be able to do that, honestly.

"It's something we've said before about Declan Rice, and his ability to receive the ball on the half turn. You've got to be a top player who has played hundreds of games as a kid, looking over your shoulder.

"I've heard it said a number of times about full-backs being able to play in midfield before... 'he can play wide, he can play as a winger' – no they can't. That's why they're full-backs."

Alessandro Bastoni, 23, is a player on the rise at Inter, having made his Italy debut in 2020 and winning the Scudetto in 2021.

But the central defender's future with the Nerazzurri is uncertain amid an inability to come to an agreement with the club on a new contract.

Bastoni's contract expires in 2024 and he has been in talks with Inter on a new deal, but two of European football's giants are reportedly circling.

TOP STORY – BASTONI IN PSG AND CITY'S SIGHTS

Powerhouse clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City will both attempt to sign Alessandro Bastoni from Inter in the off-season, reports Tuttosport.

The report claims Bastoni has been offered an improved deal by Inter but it does not meet his salary expectations, meaning no agreement has been reached.

PSG and City are both known to have endless pockets and could swoop to sign the talented Italian defender.

ROUND-UP

– Karim Benzema has turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia and instead wants to stay with Real Madrid for at least one more season, according to Marca.

– Juventus are weighing up a move for Valencia skipper Jose Gaya, reports Calciomercato. Gaya extended his contract with Los Che until 2027 last October.

– Football Insider claims Tottenham have registered their interest in signing Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech.

– Calciomercato reports Milan are tracking Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun, who has impressed this season on loan with French club Reims.

– Ex-Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has opted against taking up Leicester City's offer to become their new boss, claims The Telegraph.

Mikel Arteta hailed Aaron Ramsdale for producing "magic moments" that could be pivotal in the Premier League title race after Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.

The Arsenal goalkeeper produced a trio of expert saves to deny Liverpool a late winner after Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino scored to drag the Reds back into the game from 2-0 down.

Ramsdale denied Darwin Nunez when one-on-one, superbly tipped a deflected Salah curling effort around the post and somehow thwarted Ibrahima Konate from point-blank range in the dying seconds.

Arteta likened Ramsdale's influence to the impact Alisson has had for Liverpool in recent years after the England international starred at Anfield, where Salah missed a second-half penalty.

The Arsenal manager said during his post-match press conference: "You need your goalkeeper if you want to win and be in title races. How many times has Alisson done what he has to do?

"You have to have that, you have to have those magic moments from the keeper. We had some exceptional moments from players today as well and to win at grounds like that, you need that."

The draw leaves the Gunners six points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the Premier League summit, albeit Pep Guardiola's reigning champions have a game in hand.

While Ramsdale stepped up in the decisive moments, the drew could be seen as a missed opportunity for Arsenal after Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus fired the visitors into the ascendancy.

A short trip to London rivals West Ham follows next Sunday for Arsenal, who then host strugglers Southampton before a trip to City on April 29.

Arteta acknowledged the late heartbreak of Firmino's 87th-minute leveller but backed his side to continue responding as they have done all campaign.

He added: "When you concede at the end, you always focus on dropping two points because you have it and you are suffering, but you are relying on certain moments and the feeling is 'Ah, we should have done it!'

"But being fair to ourselves, they had four big chances where they could have scored and [Salah] missed the penalty.

"We will have to look at ourselves in the mirror and we should have done much better in the second half.

"We've been responding for 31 games now. Every single day is a test and the test is now: how good are we going to be on Monday and how well are we going to prepare to beat West Ham and to play the way we want to beat West Ham."

Mikel Arteta called on Arsenal to take their point and move on after the Premier League leaders squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Liverpool, claiming the result was a fair one. 

Arsenal looked set to restore their eight-point lead over title rivals Manchester City when Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus handed the Gunners a comfortable first-half lead.

While Mohamed Salah rolled a penalty wide after pulling a goal back, Roberto Firmino came off the bench to net his 11th Premier League goal against the Gunners – only Harry Kane (14) and Wayne Rooney (12) have more against them in the competition.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the draw, Arteta lamented Arsenal's loss of control following their flying start, but conceded Liverpool deserved their share of the spoils.

"Very intense game. The game was under control but just before half-time we conceded a really sloppy goal and the game shifted momentum," Arteta said.

"We had to reset after half-time and started well in the first few minutes, but then we lost control. It became a very transitional game, very chaotic. 

"Liverpool could have scored three or four. It is true we could have scored two or three, so maybe at the end the score is fair.

"We could take three points. We should have played like the first half for another 15 minutes and then the game would have taken a very different trajectory. We didn't. We have to take the point."

Asked why Arsenal failed to maintain their early dominance, Arteta said: "I haven't seen anybody do that here. Nobody. They [Liverpool] beat every big team here, they played Real Madrid and could have been four up after 20 minutes. 

"They are going to have moments. You need to deal with them and we did. Our goalkeeper had a big part in that."

The result means City are six points behind Arsenal at the summit with a game in hand and a home match against the Gunners – set for April 26 – to come.

Asked what the result meant for the title race, Arteta said: "We have to move on, and convince them to keep playing like we did in the first 30 minutes."

Arsenal are now winless in their last 10 Premier League trips to Anfield, drawing three and losing seven while conceding at least twice in each match.

Jurgen Klopp was left stunned and struggling to explain how Liverpool did not triumph after Aaron Ramsdale's two brilliant late saves secured a 2-2 draw for Arsenal.

Ramsdale expertly tipped a curling Mohamed Salah effort around the post before denying Ibrahima Konate from point-blank range as Liverpool were denied a last-gasp winner at Anfield on Sunday.

Those remarkable stops from England goalkeeper Ramsdale staved off hopes of a comeback victory for the Reds, who battled back from 2-0 down for a share of the Premier League spoils after goals from Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Liverpool manager Klopp was impressed with his side's reaction against the table-toppers after early goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, though he was without answers as to how the Reds did not manage to snatch victory.

He told Sky Sports: "It's a little bit typical for us this season. Arsenal have an open game, completely open, and they score with the first situation and not too long after they scored the second one. Our reaction was obviously good.

"It was a spectacular game in the end. How we didn't win it I don't know, with those chances we had. In the end it's a point and a good reaction on the two goals we conceded and that's positive.

"But I'm caught in between. I have no problems with drawing. For Arsenal, it's a super-important point because if you draw these kind of games you have a good chance to become champions. You cannot always be super, super, super convincing.

"They were good, but I think they would agree they could or should have lost this game today. They didn't, so the point for them is better than for us, but it's one for us as well."

Klopp said Salah's goal shortly before half-time "helped massively".

"We were in half-time [and thinking] OK, this game is not over, and maybe it didn't really even start. It was a sensational atmosphere, then we missed the penalty, and we got the equaliser at a good moment."

He added: "All of a sudden we were in charge in a wild game. In the end we deserved at least a point."

Klopp said Ramsdale's save from Salah in the closing stages was "exceptional", and added of the later chance: "If Ibou [Konate] uses his head, the ball goes under the crossbar, so then it's a goal. Maybe Ibou slipped. He had a chance, it was just there."

An entertaining draw left Liverpool 12 points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United, and a chance to play in the Champions League next season is slipping away.

The end-to-end thriller was somewhat marred by a half-time incident involving Andy Robertson, as the left-back appeared to be caught by an elbow from assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis.

Scotland captain Robertson seemed to be approaching Hatzidakis before television cameras captured a video of the official appearing to raise his elbow and make contact with the Liverpool defender.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for Premier League match officials, said it will investigate the footage after being made aware of the incident.

Klopp says the video evidence will tell the story as Liverpool await a decision from the PGMOL.

Asked for his thoughts on the incident, Klopp said: "I know what happened, but I didn't watch it. If it happened, the pictures will speak probably for themselves."

The body responsible for Premier League match officials will investigate after an assistant referee appeared to elbow Liverpool's Andy Robertson during Sunday's draw with Arsenal.

Liverpool recovered from 2-0 down to dent Arsenal's title hopes in a thrilling game at Anfield, with Roberto Firmino heading a late equaliser to deny the Gunners a crucial win.

The match was played out in a fierce atmosphere, and the end of the first half saw a bizarre altercation between linesman Constantine Hatzidakis and Reds left-back Robertson.

As Robertson spoke to the official, television pictures seemed to show Hatzidakis raise his right elbow and make contact with the Scotland international.

According to Sky Sports, Robertson alleged the official had elbowed him in the throat upon entering the tunnel at half-time, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson reportedly complaining to referee Paul Tierney.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for referees, vowed to examine the incident.

In a widely reported statement issued shortly before full-time, the body said: "PGMOL is aware of an incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at half-time during the Liverpool v Arsenal fixture at Anfield. 

"We will review the matter in full once the game has concluded."

Liverpool's fightback means Arsenal's lead over title rivals Manchester City stands at six points, though Pep Guardiola's champions have a game in hand and will host the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium later this month.

Liverpool know better than most just how fine the margins are when it comes to Premier League success.

In missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City by one point last season, Jurgen Klopp's men were given a fairly brutal lesson in that regard.

A year on, it's Arsenal hoping to do what the Reds couldn't and beat City to the title, and whichever way their season ends, there is a huge possibility they will look back on Sunday's 2-2 draw at Liverpool as decisive.

You would have been forgiven for predicting an impressively comfortable away win, such were the two teams' respective performances in the first half.

Arsenal resembled the Liverpool of 12 months ago. They were furious in their pressing, electric and incisive on the ball.

Even if you'd seen Arsenal on a regular basis this season, the swagger with which they were playing at such a famously vociferous arena was outstanding, particularly when you also consider their dreadful record at Anfield.

Arsenal had lost each of their previous six away games against the Reds in the Premier League, while they had not won at Anfield since September 2012.

Liverpool, on the other hand, looked lost, confused, almost as if they were suffering from an identity crisis.

Of course, this certainly wasn't an isolated example of such a display, but this was the kind of occasion one expects to bring the best out of Anfield and the Reds.

Diogo Jota looked every inch a player without a goal in over a year as he failed to influence proceedings. Curtis Jones was similarly unconvincing, while Trent Alexander-Arnold was all over the place, struggling in his usual role and then taking up central positions that left gaping holes at the back.

The England right-back was left for dead by Gabriel Martinelli early on and then failed to track Gabriel Jesus at the back post as the striker failed to convert a Bukayo Saka cross.

Of course, by that point Arsenal were already ahead thanks to the lively Martinelli, who made the most of a kind ricochet to dart into the box and prod beyond Alisson in the eighth minute.

It was then 2-0 just before the half-hour mark. Jesus did apply the finish this time, heading in from Martinelli's cross as the Liverpool defence were out of sync once again.

But the contest seemed to flip in the 41st minute, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's fears of what he described as the Anfield "jungle" becoming reality.

Granit Xhaka was rather innocuously bundled over by Ibrahima Konate, but no free-kick followed, and he reacted with a forceful barge into the back of Alexander-Arnold, appearing to whack him with his forearm.

Alexander-Arnold retaliated with a shove of his own and the two went head-to-head. Referee Paul Tierney issued both a yellow card, but more significantly the incident appeared to get the home crowd engaged finally.

Suddenly there was also fire in the Liverpool ranks, and a minute later Salah nudged home from close range to breathe life into the contest, with Arsenal presumably delighted by the half-time whistle soon after.

That was followed by a downright bizarre incident that could have even helped Liverpool's siege mentality. Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to elbow Andy Robertson in the face after being approached aggressively by the left-back, with the Reds left furious.

That fury was channelled well by Liverpool after the break, spending much of the second half in the ascendancy as they sought an equaliser.

Mohamed Salah failed to score it from the spot after a clumsy foul by Rob Holding on Jota, but there was unquestionably a hint of predictability above the leveller three minutes from time as Roberto Firmino headed in from Alexander-Arnold's excellent cross.

An incredible finale was ushered in.

Liverpool piled on the pressure. Aaron Ramsdale denied Darwin Nunez when one-on-one, and then the goalkeeper somehow saved Arsenal as Konate inexplicably failed to chest the ball over the line.

Had it not been for Ramsdale's heroics, Arsenal would have been on the end of a potentially crippling defeat. Not necessarily crippling in terms of a huge deficit, but rather in relation to their mentality and the pressure being applied by City.

Of course, it's easy to look at the result as two points dropped. Considering Arsenal were 2-0 up, many fans – and players – will believe that to be the most apt appraisal of the situation.

But in the end, with an optimist's spin on it, Arsenal should feel happy to get away from Anfield with a point. After all, that's more than they managed in any of their previous six Premier League visits.

To understand the potential value of that point, all they need to do is look at Liverpool.

Aaron Ramsdale insisted Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Liverpool may eventually be considered a "very good point" despite the Gunners relinquishing a two-goal lead at Anfield.

Liverpool fought back through goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino to earn a share of the spoils after Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus fired Arsenal into a 2-0 lead on Sunday.

The result left Arsenal six points clear at the Premier League summit, ahead of second-placed Manchester City who have a game in hand.

Mikel Arteta's side may count themselves fortunate to escape with a point. Ramsdale was required to make two brilliant late stops, repelling a deflected Salah effort before preventing Ibrahima Konate from bundling over a gilt-edged opportunity, as Liverpool threatened a last-minute winner.

The England goalkeeper said once the dust has settled on an enthralling fixture, Arsenal will reflect on the draw as a point earned rather than two dropped.

"Mixed emotions, but over the next few days I think it will be a very good point," Ramsdale told Sky Sports.

"We've been under pressure for 35 minutes and get the point away at Anfield. They're a top side. It might be two points dropped, but we could have dropped three.

"I thought we were excellent. For 50, 60 minutes we were very good, but we got unlocked by two goals.

"Now we have to go back in and build again. One point is a lot better than none.

"The manager will say that [to focus on the good aspects]. He's hugely positive. We'll digest it in the next few days."

Asked about his individual exploits, Ramsdale was delighted to make a difference, adding: "There's no better game to play in than these games. At least my saves have helped us out."

While Ramsdale remained modest about his impressive performance, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard thanked the goalkeeper for saving Arteta's side.

The Norway international told BBC Sport: "It was a crazy game. We started really well. The first 40 minutes before they scored, we controlled the game.

"After their goal the game changed a bit, and we didn't manage to keep the ball. They created a lot of chances.

"Aaron [Ramsdale] was very good back there and saved us. Frustrated not to win, but we have to take the point and move on.

"Against this team you need to be very good on the ball. If you give away the ball they will run at you and the fans create momentum."

Roberto Firmino's late header stunned Arsenal as Liverpool stormed back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield.

Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put the Gunners in command, but Mohamed Salah reduced the deficit late in the first half.

Salah missed a penalty early in the second half, but Firmino came off the bench to rock Arsenal with an equaliser in the 87th minute of a thriller on Merseyside.

Aaron Ramsdale then produced two brilliant saves in injury time as the Gunners held on for a draw that leaves them six points clear of defending champions Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Liverpool were fuming as defender Andy Robertson appeared to be elbowed by an assistant referee at the end of the first half of Sunday's game against Arsenal.

The left-back approached the official, who was identified by Sky Sports as Constantine Hatzidakis, and seemed to be making a point to him.

It was unclear from a distance what was said, but television pictures then looked to show the assistant referee raise his right elbow and make contact with the Scotland international.

What was not obvious was whether the linesman had intended to catch Robertson.

Asked if he had ever seen anything like it, pundit and former Manchester United hard man Roy Keane said: "No, not really, but Robertson, does he grab the linesman first? I'm not sure, but Robertson then is complaining.

"He should be more worried about his defending."

Keane then pointed the finger at Robertson and described him as "a big baby".

"You know what he is, that Robertson," Keane said. "I've watched him a number of times, he is a big baby. Just get on with the game and concentrate on your defending. He does grab the linesman first."

According to Sky Sports, Robertson said on entering the tunnel at half-time: "The linesman has elbowed me in the throat."

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson reportedly complained to referee Paul Tierney, before the players entered the dressing room.

Bukayo Saka returned to the Arsenal team to face Liverpool at Anfield, while Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were handed starts for the hosts.

Saka dropped to the bench for a 4-1 hammering of Leeds United last weekend due to illness, but the England winger replaced Leandro Trossard in the Premier League leaders' starting line-up on Sunday.

That was the only change made by manager Mikel Arteta as the Gunners looked to restore their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to eight points.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recalled centre-back Van Dijk and leading scorer Salah to his team, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo.

Van Dijk was absent for a goalless draw with Chelsea in midweek, while Salah, Robertson, Gakpo and Alexander-Arnold started on the bench at Stamford Bridge.

Thiago Alcantara was included among the substitutes for Sunday's game after two months on the sidelines with a hip injury.

Kalidou Koulibaly acknowledges his debut campaign at Chelsea has not gone to plan, but the Senegal international remains committed to spending "many years" with the Blues.

Koulibaly left Napoli for Stamford Bridge in a £33.8million (€40m) deal last July, as part of a huge spending spree sanctioned in Chelsea's first transfer window under the Todd Boehly regime.

However, Chelsea have endured a dire first campaign since their change of owner, sitting 11th in the Premier League table after sacking two bosses in Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.

Caretaker manager Frank Lampard oversaw a 1-0 defeat to Wolves in his first game at the helm on Saturday, leaving the London side 17 points adrift of the Champions League places.

While Koulibaly admits he has not performed to the best of his abilities since arriving in the Premier League, he is keen to make amends in future campaigns.

"I know I'm not at 100 per cent yet, but I think I'm coming to my level," he told The Times. "Chelsea made a big decision to sign me and there's a big desire in me to give back. 

"I want to be part of this club for many years. This is not the year Chelsea were expecting, but sometimes when you have big changes, new owners, and half the team is new, everybody has to adapt.

"But we know how big the ambition is here and we're going to work to win back the confidence of the supporters."

Koulibaly believes the squad must accept responsibility for the coaching changes that have blighted Chelsea's campaign, adding: "When you change managers, it's like you failed somewhere. 

"You have to keep on fighting, and we'll give everything. Our new manager is a big legend, so we have to be behind him. We know we can do better – and we will."

Chelsea's most recent defeat was their seventh on the road in the Premier League this season. They last lost more away games in a single campaign in 2000-01 (eight).

Harry Maguire has talked up Manchester United's squad strength and declared he is ready to play his part in their end-of-season run-in.

England international Maguire has had to largely make do with being a squad player this season, having started just six of United's 29 Premier League matches.

The 30-year-old was brought into the side in place of Raphael Varane for Saturday's meeting with Everton and helped United to a clean sheet in their 2-0 victory.

United are well positioned in their battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League, while also still being in contention for silverware in the Europa League and FA Cup.

With as many as 16 games still to come this season, United captain Maguire says every player will have a part to play.

"We're never going to be successful as 11 players," he told MUTV. "This is the Premier League and we're playing in all competitions. 

"We want to do as much as we can in every competition, win more trophies and compete at the highest level of the Premier League. To do that you need more than 11 players."

United welcomed back Christian Eriksen from a two-month injury lay-off against Everton, while Anthony Martial stepped up his recovery with a goal from the substitutes' bench.

Not only does that bolster Erik ten Hag's choices in midfield and attack, Maguire believes it also helps get more out of other players due to the increased competition for places.

"To get Christian back, Anthony back, they're huge players for us, huge players for the squad," he said.

"They can make a difference off the bench, can start games and it just brings that little bit more energy into everybody, knowing that competition for places is high.

"We've got a good squad to be able to cope with the demands that we've been put through in the games that we have to play."

Martial scored his fourth league goal of the season in the routine win over Everton after Scott McTominay had given United a first-half lead at Old Trafford.

United dominated the first half in particular but only had one goal to show for it, though Maguire feels that was his side's best opening 45 minutes of the season to date.

"There have been some good halves – like the second half against Barcelona – but the first half [against Everton], I'd probably say that's the strongest, for sure," Maguire said.

"If we'd come in at half-time 4-0 up, I think no one would be complaining. But nothing is ever comfortable in the Premier League. It should have been comfortable, that’s for sure. 

"I think we thoroughly deserved the three points. The only thing probably missing was more goals."

United host Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, while Brighton and Hove Albion await in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 23.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp declared himself "100 per cent responsible for this rubbish" but is sure the club can get through their tough season "in a classy manner".

After agonisingly missing out on a quadruple last season, the Reds have had a difficult 2022-23 campaign that has already seen them knocked out of every cup competition, while they sit eighth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's Anfield clash with leaders Arsenal.

The Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22, as well as reaching the Champions League final and finishing just a point behind Premier League winners Manchester City.

With 10 matches left this term, Liverpool's points total of 43 is less than half what they amassed in 2021-22, and Klopp accepts it is unacceptable.

"I'm sorry for our people, that they don't have the season they wished for. But in the long term they will forget that," Klopp told Sky Sports.

"I couldn't care less what we did last year or the years before. I'm 100 per cent responsible for this rubbish and it's really not cool."

The German coach recently admitted his generally impeccable record with the club was probably the reason his job has not come into question, and shared his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans.

"I know everybody can express their emotions in an instant and there will be a lot of negative comments about us – I understand that," he said. "But the people in the stadium are incredible.

"You see things happening at other clubs, not only sackings but teams against owners, fans against owners, fans against the team – I've seen it all.

"But if anyone can get through a situation like this in a classy manner, I really think it's us as a club."

Liverpool played every game possible last season (63), and the associated fatigue has been cited as one of the reasons for their dramatic dip in form, while Chelsea (61 matches) and City (56 matches) have also seen their points totals regress.

"What you've seen this year is that a lot of teams that performed last year on an extremely high level are not exactly there," Klopp added. "Even City. Of course they play sensational football, but they don't have the same points tally as last year [64, compared to 69 at the same stage in 2021-22].

"The intensity, at one point, gets you and maybe it caught us this year. But that is no excuse for the next 10 games.

"It may be an explanation for why we are not on our top level. We didn't find a way to bring in consistent performances."

Sitting 13 points behind Newcastle United and Manchester United in third and fourth place respectively, it will take a significant turnaround for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League, even if they have a game in hand.

Klopp believes a "lack of confidence" has played a part, as well as injuries, but his team's potential has still been visible with a 9-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season, and a 7-0 thrashing of rivals United in their last home game.

Their shortcomings were on show again just six days later though, stumbling to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.

"World-class players are performing on a strange level," he said. "It started with injuries and players coming back early, and we were never really settled in this season.

"We have to go through that and I have no problem with that. When I look back in 10 or 15 years this season will probably not be involved with highlights, but hopefully there'll be a lot of things we can learn from it and can use next year.

"But we have to fight through this and this is tough. If it was easy they wouldn't pay me that much money for it.

"We've had a super-strange season. We've had the two highest wins in our history but then a week later we cannot do it."

Alan Shearer says "scary" Manchester City striker Erling Haaland can reach 60 goals for the season after closing in on the Newcastle United icon's Premier League record.

Haaland scored a brace in Saturday's win at Southampton to take his tally for the season in all competitions in his maiden campaign with City to 44 goals in 38 games.

That is 13 goals more than the next-highest scorer among players across Europe's top five leagues, with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe netting 31 in 35 appearances.

Thirty of Haaland's goals have come in the Premier League, leaving him just four short of matching Shearer's record of 34 in a season, which he jointly holds with Andy Cole.

Shearer expects Haaland to surpass that target with time to spare and, with potentially 16 more games to play in all competitions, he believes a bigger milestone is attainable.

"If he can stay fit, Haaland will obliterate the Premier League record I share with Andy Cole of 34 goals in a single season," Shearer said in his column for The Athletic.

"At his current rate of averages in all competitions, with 44 in 38 appearances, he will storm past 50. Even that may be a disservice to him. 

"Who knows, we could even be talking 60 and Dixie Dean territory. Scary."

Haaland reached 30 Premier League goals in 27 games, doing so in five matches fewer than any other player in the competition's history.

Only eight players in the English top flight – most recently Jimmy Greaves in 1961 – have scored more than 40 goals in a single league season.

"I wonder how many people thought it was hyperbole when I wrote nearly a year ago that Erling Haaland would score 40 goals in this Manchester City team?" Shearer said. 

"City were buying goals – as close as you can get to an absolute, cast-iron guarantee – by adding an exceptional centre-forward to a phenomenally creative side.

"If anything, I was being stingy. Exceptional? He's almost perfect and that haul of 40 is already in his rearview mirror."

Haaland's next opportunity to add to his growing haul will come on Tuesday when City host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The former Borussia Dortmund man has 33 goals in 25 games in the competition, which is also a record for the quickest time to surpass the 30-goal mark in the Champions League.