Liverpool have been urged to remain “angry and greedy” and play at “full throttle” as the race for Champions League qualification enters the final straight.

The Reds, who will face Roma in the semi-finals of the competition later this month, are in a strong position to seal their berth in next season's tournament.

Jurgen Klopp's side are currently 10 points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea and need only nine points from their final five Premier League games to guarantee a top-four berth.

Liverpool visit Stamford Bridge in their penultimate top-flight fixture but could have rendered the game irrelevant by winning their next three league matches, starting at home to Bournemouth on Saturday evening.

And Klopp, who is expected to field a strong team against Eddie Howe's visitors, has said there must be no let-up from his players despite their jubilant celebrations after eliminating Manchester City from Europe on Tuesday.

(Image: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

“Now it’s a case of attitude, character stuff like that – that you stay greedy, and want to do the next step,” said the Reds boss.

“That’s why it is important we are fully focused on Bournemouth.

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“There is so much positivity because there is so much to go for us, but when I hear people say we are already qualified for the Champions League, how can we think it not possible Chelsea will win the next three? That we should concentrate only on Roma? Wow.

“Bournemouth is really difficult, West Brom may be relegated and thinking completely free to create a good football game for their supporters and then Stoke might see it as their last chance.

“It is full throttle. It is not allowed that we celebrate among ourselves. I see the positive things but do not feel them because there is a job to do.”

Although thrashed 4-0 at home by Liverpool in December, Bournemouth have lost only once away from home in the Premier League this year, a run during which they drew at Leicester City and won 3-0 at Chelsea.

And Klopp has warned his Reds players not to become carried away by the plaudits garnered by their remarkable Champions League progress.

“When you are constantly told you are fantastic, it is the first step towards not being fantastic any more,” he said. “We have to stay really angry.

“We have so much to go for and it will never stop because even if the season is finished there will be space for improvement and we will work towards that. It is the plan.

“I think the relationship between us and supporters was always good, but the belief from both sides has reached the next level and that is all credit to the boys because of the things that they did.”

Klopp fielded a much-changed team in the goalless draw at Everton last weekend, but will have fewer options at his disposal on Saturday with Nathaniel Clyne and Ragnar Klavan both ruled out and doubts over Roberto Firmino, who has a neck complaint.

The Reds boss is hopeful Emre Can and Adam Lallana could yet play a part this season, and while Joe Gomez should be back in a few weeks, Joel Matip is definitely sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

Jordan Henderson, suspended for the Champions League tie at the Etihad, will start in midfield against Bournemouth.

Klopp on the chances of Can & Lallana playing again this season

Klopp believes Liverpool remain a work in progress but was impressed with one aspect against Manchester City in which he knew his team had to improve.

“We were controlling the game better,” he added. “It’s obviously quite difficult to train deep defending because nobody can put you under pressure in a training session like Manchester City is doing.

“So that’s one thing. It’s an improvement. If you have the ball you need to play football. I think we really did in the second half, it’s not possible to do it constantly and sometimes only to shoot or stay in formation, get organised again or whatever.

“That’s control, which is a very important part of the game. There are other games where you need to react to other situations. So I like the two games (against City) a lot, to be honest. To have done it a little worse, we'd have had no chance, in both games.

“Second half at home and first half there, no chance. So we were really spot on in these situations but, overall, could still have done much better.”