Liverpool have re- REAL BETIS 1 gained some consistency in the Premier League in recent games but the squad cannot take that confidence for granted in their quest for a top-four spot, manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday.

Liverpool reignited their top-four hopes with a 7-0 thrashing of old rivals Manchester United last week, moving up to fifth place to sit three points behind Tottenham Hotspur above them.

The Merseyside club also have a game in hand and they next play away on Saturday at bottom side Bournemouth — who were thrashed 9-0 at Anfield earlier this season.

“There’s no better mood booster than a good game for us, you see it in training. We had consistency in the league in the last five games, but confidence is a fragile little flower and we have to make sure we keep that,” Klopp told reporters.

“There’s a feeling that we have to challenge everybody, but that’s only a side story. The main thing is going to Bournemouth and playing a game and not counting the points before you have them.”

Pep’s warning

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola warned his players to be more careful when out in public after defender Kyle Walker became the subject of a police investigation for allegedly exposing himself in a bar.

British media reported that Cheshire Police are looking into a video “in relation to an indecent exposure” after The Sun alleged 32-year-old Walker had exposed himself in a Manchester bar.

Guardiola refused to comment on the matter on Friday, saying it was a “private issue” that would be resolved internally by the club, but said players must always be on their guard when they step out of the house.

“Completely different from years ago,” he told reporters on Friday.

Ronaldo fails to score, loses his cool

Cristiano Ronaldo. File picture

Jeddah: A furious Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off down the tunnel kicking water bottles out of his way after his Al-Nassr team lost 1-0 at Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro league on Thursday.

The defeat marked the second match in row in which the 38-year-old Ronaldo failed to find the net, with Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe parrying away a fierce shot from the Portugal superstar in injury time.

Brazilian Romarinho scored 10 minutes from time to seal victory for Al-Ittihad, who leapfrogged Al-Nassr to take top spot in the league table.

Al-Ittihad’s fans taunted Ronaldo throughout the match, repeatedly chanting the name of his rival, Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, who has scored eight goals in seven league games this season, took off his captain’s armband before leaving the pitch and looked set to throw it, before regaining his composure.

He applauded the Al-Nassr supporters before leaving the field of play.

“Disappointed with the result, but we stay focused on our season,” he said on Twitter after the game.

Reuters