Jurgen Klopp has hailed Liverpool finishing in the top four after beating Middlesbrough 3-0, insisting a club such as the Reds must simply be playing Champions League football.
It was a nervy opening for Liverpool at Anfield as Boro showed signs of being stubborn opponents, but the atmosphere changed when Georginio Wijnaldum popped up with the opener on the stroke of half time.
Philippe Coutinho settled any remaining Liverpool nerves by making it 2-0 in the 51st minute, while when Adam Lallana struck just five minutes later, Boro were dead and buried.
Liverpool have finished fourth, meaning they are into the Champions League playoff round in the summer and Klopp feels it was essential for the Reds to return to Europe's premier club competition.
"We are Liverpool. We have to deliver. We did it again", he told Sky Sports.
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"We have to improve and we will but for now, today, it is a big relief.
"A club like Liverpool need to be in the Champions League."
Klopp stressed that finishing in the top four is not an easy task in the Premier League and as such he is proud of what his team have accomplished this term.
"Other clubs have the same target so it is not easy to be there consistently.
"I am proud of the boys, we worked a lot and everything is good. Now we have to build on it", he added.
Liverpool will now look forward to enhanced spending power over the summer as a result of their top four finish.
