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Klopp Urges Liverpool to Keep Pressure on After Win at Leicester 

Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates at the end of the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on May 15, 2023. (AFP)
Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates at the end of the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on May 15, 2023. (AFP)
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Klopp Urges Liverpool to Keep Pressure on After Win at Leicester 

Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates at the end of the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on May 15, 2023. (AFP)
Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates at the end of the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on May 15, 2023. (AFP)

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp urged his team to keep the pressure on their Premier League rivals in the last two games of the season as they make a late charge for a top-four finish.

Liverpool secured Europa League football for next season after Monday's 3-0 win at Leicester City and sit one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United and third-placed Newcastle United, though both teams have a game in hand each.

Klopp, whose side are now on a seven-game winning streak, said six weeks ago he had doubts about their chances of playing in Europe next season.

"I didn't believe it can happen," Klopp told reporters. "What we lacked that time was obviously consistency and there was only one chance for us to get in these situations - winning pretty much all the football games.

"All the rest is not in our own hands but we know we have to win all the games until the end of the season to have a chance.

"... You wish anyway that the opponent was just losing and you have that kind of pressure off your shoulder. Our job is to keep the pressure."

Liverpool host Aston Villa on Saturday before a trip for their final match to Southampton, whose relegation has been confirmed.

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Tennis Player Taylor Fritz is Donating Australian Open Prize Money to LA Wildfire Relief Funds

Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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Tennis Player Taylor Fritz is Donating Australian Open Prize Money to LA Wildfire Relief Funds

Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

American tennis player Taylor Fritz said Thursday he is donating the prize money he earned for his first-round victory at the Australian Open — about $82,000 — to relief funds to help people affected by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area.

“I mean, I feel like it’s really the least I can do,” said US Open finalist Fritz, who was born in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and still is based in the state.

“Obviously ‘SoCal’ has been my home forever. I still spend a lot of time in LA, but I lived in LA for quite a while. I have friends impacted; family not so much. I had some family have to evacuate. The house that my brothers grew up in burnt down. Obviously, they’re not living there anymore,” Fritz said after reaching the third round at Melbourne Park with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 victory over qualifier Cristian Garín of Chile.

“A lot of people are affected by it,” added Fritz, the runner-up to Jannik Sinner at the US Open in September and seeded No. 4 in Australia. “I feel like if you’re in a place to help, then you should.”

Authorities have not determined a cause for the major blazes in what is on track to become the nation’s costliest fire disaster, with at least 25 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed, according to The AP.

Several athletes with connections to the LA area have been competing at the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.

Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, said she sent someone to retrieve her 1 1/2-year-old daughter’s birth certificate from their California home in case it got caught up in the fires. Tristan Boyer, a 23-year-old from California who had a first-round win but lost Thursday, said his father had to evacuate their house in Altadena.

“We have friends and family who are homeless now. It’s really, really devastating to see,” Boyer said. “Obviously trying to do what I need to do to prep and play tennis, but control what I can control in this moment. But it’s hard for sure.”

Fritz will play French veteran Gael Monfils on Saturday for a berth in the fourth round in Australia. Also on Fritz’s mind is what is happening back home.

“I just want everyone to obviously stay safe,” Fritz said. “It’s just insane what happened.”