Jurgen Klopp believes supporters from rival clubs across the country are desperate for Liverpool to fall short in their Premier League title challenge.

And the Reds boss has dismissed suggestions fortune has played a major part in the remarkable efforts of his players in maintaining their pursuit of the club's first championship since 1990.

Liverpool moved on to 94 points after 37 games with Saturday's nerve-shredding 3-2 win at Newcastle United.

Only two teams in Premier League history have earned more points over a season, Chelsea when finishing with 95 to win the title in 2005 and Manchester City with their record 100-point haul last season.

City can move a point clear once more with victory at home to Leicester City in their penultimate game of the campaign on Monday night, a result which Klopp claims would delight many.

“A lot of supporters from other clubs will be happy if we fail,” said the Reds boss.

“They're still behind us (in the table), apart from Man City. It's all okay, really.

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“At the very beginning when I came to Liverpool, I realised this club has to do it the hard way, so we'll do it the hard way, that's how it is, because luck is not constantly with us.

“It's not like – wow, again! We have to really work for it and the boys are ready and the whole club is ready for that.

“I was not sure against Newcastle if we could do it, but we did it. I'm absolutely proud.

“Whatever happens, it will be a very, very successful season and I'm pretty sure that all our supporters can see it like this.”

Liverpool finish their Premier League season at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday while City are at Brighton and Hove Albion.

And Klopp admits even he has been surprised with the Reds' record-breaking top-flight campaign.

“Before you start the season, you want to be champions and the day you realise you can't be champions, you're disappointed,” he said.

“For some teams, that's the first day, for some teams, that's the last matchday. That doesn't make a big difference. For us, it's 100% clear – we try everything we can. We cannot do more.

“For us, the target is winning football games as often as possible, and the boys did much more than I thought possible.

“It will be a brilliant atmosphere 100% next Sunday and we will use it, and let's try to get 97 points and then we are ready for judgement.”

Klopp, though, was exasperated at questions over whether he had prepared a speech to his players should they finish second to City – and is only considering Liverpool as champions.

“Do you think I've thought already what I will tell them?” he said. “That's why I'm not a journalist. I don't prepare my text. I feel it and then I say it.

“I don't have to think a week before what I say. I didn't think a second about it.

“In my mind, we win it, but it still can happen that it will not happen. I know that, but I don't think about that. Thinking about a negative scenario is a waste of time. You can deal with that when it happens.

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“I don't have to maintain calmness, we are like this. So that's how we will play. On Tuesday, Barcelona (in the Champions League) – just to play them is a tough one but to win it is even tougher.

“Of course, we have to see who is ready, you know Bobby (Firmino) is not ready, so that doesn't help.”