Knowing that a win over Middlesbrough FC at Anfield on Sunday will guarantee Liverpool a top four finish and a spot in next season’s Champions League, the meeting with ‘Boro has become quite possibly the most important match the club will play this year.
“It will be like a final so we will give it everything. We just have to continue playing our game and I think if we show the same attitude as at West Ham we have a big chance of doing this,” explained Reds striker Divock Origi, speaking to the club’s official website. “We have worked hard all season to reach a goal and that was to finish the highest possible. We had two games left before West Ham. We have won the first and now we will give it everything in the second, so we will be at home which is very good and I think we can go with a lot of belief and a lot of confidence,” continued the Belgian, going on to ask for a little help from Anfield. “Our fans give us very big support, they’re a 12th man – and so I think 12 against 11 can be difficult, so we will try and do everything to win this game against Middlesbrough.”
Bouncing back from a disappointing draw last weekend to thrash West Ham United at the London Stadium, Liverpool reclaimed third place and though the chasing pack of Manchester City and Arsenal both hold matches in hand, a win at the weekend would be just enough to get them a spot in Europe’s premier club competition — the bare minimum they hoped to achieve this season, but encouraging progress nonetheless.
“It’s in our own hands and it would be a good achievement,” said Reds midifleder Georginio Wijnaldum, speaking to the Liverpool ECHO. “It would be a good step for next season for us to play against better teams in the Champions League,” mused the Dutchman. “Getting more experience as a team and learning to handle more matches will make us better. Qualifying for the Champions League would just be the start,” added Wijnaldum, looking ahead to the future. “This is the beginning of something that can go much bigger.”
