Jurgen Klopp admits failing to qualify for the Champions League would have a "huge" financial impact on Liverpool - but believes it could be bad news for their Premier League rivals.
With nine games remaining, the Reds are currently five points off the top four having moved up to sixth place with a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.
Liverpool could still qualify for the Champions League through winning the competition this season, with their name in the hat for Friday's quarter-final draw.
Klopp regards it "almost impossible" his team can close the gap to the top four and that the extent of the Premier League champions' injuries make it difficult to regain the European Cup.
But the Reds boss has pointed to how no European football next season could work in their favour and spell problems for their domestic rivals.
“It would mean a huge financial loss," he said regarding a lack of Champions League football. "Otherwise not that much.
"I like to be an optimist, but in the league it is almost impossible to qualify in the competition for the Champions League places that we have.
"At Tottenham, Gareth Bale is now playing again, and they are also in the running. Plus (Manchester) City and United, who are far away (at the top).
"Chelsea is on the rise. Reaching Champions League qualification through the league will be difficult, we know that.
"You don’t usually win the Champions League itself in a year with injury worries as big as we have."
Klopp, speaking via SportsWitness in a wide-ranging interview in SportBild with Germany and Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus, added: "Then in the worst case it will be next year: no Champions League, maybe Europa League, although that is not guaranteed either.
"If we don’t play internationally at all, that means: more time to relax.
"That would be bad for all other teams. Because training is good for us. If we had more time, we could take advantage of it.
"We would try to turn the bad situation into something good.”
If Liverpool do fail to secure either a top-four finish or win the Champions League this campaign, Klopp is convinced it will not weaken the relationships inside the club that helped them become champions of Europe, the world and England.
"I am aware: in almost all football clubs in the world, I would be questioned in a situation like our current one," he said.
"This is completely normal, reality, the business. I would accept that immediately.
"But it’s different here in Liverpool. Our owners, the sports director, even the players: nobody doubts anyone here. We have accepted the situation for ourselves and fight our way through it.
“Even if there has never been anything like it after a championship: then we’ll be the first to fight our way, as a large, successful club.
"We won’t let a leaf get between us. That is the plan."
