It was just a couple of months ago that Jurgen Klopp claimed he didn't have 'the skills for playing mind games'. If that was true, it hasn't taken him long to learn.
This week, in a chat with Germany legend Lothar Matthaus for Sport Bild, Liverpool's manager effectively ruled his side out of the race for the Champions League spots, despite them sitting just five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
From the way Klopp was talking, you could be forgiven for thinking there were just a few games left of the season, and that Thomas Tuchel's men had three already-relegated sides still to play at Stamford Bridge.