As he sat watching Barcelona’s incredible second-leg comeback against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night, Jurgen Klopp didn’t himself miss the Champions League – because he knows Liverpool weren’t good enough to be there.

After a torrid start to 2017, the Reds took a big step towards Champions League qualification with a 3-1 victory over Arsenal to leapfrog them into the top four.

Should Klopp’s side manage a victory over Burnley at home on Sunday, the gap between themselves and fifth-placed Arsenal will be five points, although both the Gunners and sixth-placed Manchester United will have two games in hand.

Liverpool players who could leave this summer Show all 12 1 /12 Liverpool players who could leave this summer Liverpool players who could leave this summer Daniel Sturridge An electric frontman just three years ago, Sturridge has now lost a bit of that spark due to persistent injury problems. However, according to Jamie Carragher, Sturridge has become irked at speculation linking him with a move away, suggesting he may yet stick around to prove himself. Survival rating: 6/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Alberto Moreno Moreno is surely in line to depart this summer, having been frozen out of the starting line-up since the opening day win at Arsenal and kept out by a makeshift left-back. Although he offers an obvious attacking threat, his lack of composure has cost Liverpool too many times in his short Anfield career. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Simon Mignolet He may have won his battle with Loris Karius for the starting spot between the sticks, but both may have lost the war. Neither have convinced when given an opportunity and Mignolet is merely the man in possession. There will be concern if that’s still the case come next season’s opening weekend. Survival rating: 8/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Emre Can A player with undoubted potential, but one who has consistently under-performed. His contractual situation is a worry, too. Can’s current deal expires in the summer of 2018 and, with negotiations progressing slowly, Liverpool could be tempted to cash in. Survival rating: 7/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Lucas Leiva A club stalwart, a fan favourite, but a player undoubtedly coming to the end of his time at Anfield. His contract expires this summer and a renewal would be one borne out of sentiment rather than sense. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Loris Karius Like Mignolet, Karius' future will depend on whether Klopp decides to enter the market for a goalkeeper for the second consecutive summer. If he does, last year's signing from Mainz will have a long road back to the first team. He is young, though, and his status as a relatively new signing could work in his favour. Survival rating: 7/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Ragnar Klavan Brought in as a fourth-choice centre-back last summer, Klavan shot up the pecking order following Mamadou Sakho’s disciplinary issues. Joel Matip’s injury problems saw Klavan promoted further still and, though he has put in a handful of solid displays, others have been below-par. If a new centre-back arrives and Joe Gomez’s development continues apace, Klavan will be back on the fringes. Survival rating: 7/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Mamadou Sakho Sakho is currently out on loan at Crystal Palace and his Anfield career looks all but over after the disciplinary problems which have dogged him. Klopp looks to have made his mind up on the defender, who would be a regular starter if he had his manager's trust. Survival rating: 1/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Jon Flanagan Local-born Flanagan is a fan favourite who only signed a new contract last season, but as an old-fashioned full-back, he is perhaps not dynamic enough for Klopp's system. A lack of minutes at loan club Burnley will not have helped his cause. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Andre Wisdom Wisdom broke into Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side during the Northern Irishman's first season at the club, but his progress has stagnated. The 23-year-old may now look to build a career away from English football, having spent this season on loan at Red Bull Salzburg. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Lazar Markovic Markovic seems destined to become an expensive Liverpool flop, having flattered to deceive since his £20million move from Benfica in 2014. He could yet enjoy success elsewhere however, and has shown glimpses of his undeniable talent while on loan at Hull. Survival rating: 3/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Danny Ings Liverpool's forgotten man has been unlucky with injuries since joining from Burnley. Ings has made just 11 starts in two years following two serious knee injuries. With any luck, Klopp will show sympathy to his beleaguered striker. Survival rating: 6/10 Getty

And the German struck a pragmatic note in his press conference on Friday by insisting he wasn’t kicking his heels thinking ‘we should be there’ when the eyes of the footballing world were fixed on the Nou Camp.

“As a person I’m like this – what I don’t have, I don’t miss because it is pragmatic,” said Klopp. “I don’t miss Champions League because I know we were not good enough to qualify for it.

“I know it is wonderful to play there. I don’t need this feeling in front of the television that I would be highly motivated to go there next year but when I watched it this week, especially the Barcelona game, I thought ‘I love football’.

“It is unbelievable that things like this are possible. It was great to watch of course.”

Despite being in the all-important fourth place, Klopp admitted Liverpool could miss out on a place at Europe’s top table, with 11 games to go of the Premier League race.

Liverpool have already lost once to Burnley this season – their first defeat of the campaign – and all subsequent defeats have been to teams in the lower half of the table, while they have maintained a fantastic record against fellow members of the top six.

“We would be probably very good in the Champions League [in that case]. We need a wildcard!”

“Of course it is in our hands. In this moment I think we should only think about how we can do it.

“Would it be a disappointment if we don’t reach it? Yes because we think we should qualify for it. Is it possible that we don’t qualify? Yes because of the league, because of the opponents and all that stuff.

Liverpool's last Champions League adventure saw them dumped out at the Group Stages in 2014 (Getty)

“It would be because of us and we have to take that situation like it is. It is our big target of course. We want to do everything to get it.